The Story Of My Life, So Far

 

In the month of November 1949, I came into this world on a small island off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. Folly Beach was the kind of place where the Baptist church I grew up in was across the street from the Catholic church that one of my best friends attended.

Folly was the place I would spend time surfing and squirrel hunting early in the mornings, before driving the bus route to my high school in downtown Charleston.

Camping on one of the dozens of small islands, sitting around the fire, and telling tall tales was something we boys did as youths. I guess you could say that was my training period for becoming a Professional Storyteller and Author later in life.

I grew up working on my father's shrimp boat, running a crab line for a local seafood supplier, and even spending a few summers as a carny at the Folly Beach Amusement Park.

I left my picturesque island home at nineteen to enter the United States Air Force. During those 8 1/2 years, I met and married a beautiful girl, traveled to Vietnam, Thailand, and several other places.

After leaving the Air Force, I lived in several different places before settling in Indian Land, South Carolina.

 

My mother was an English teacher and loved writing short stories and poems. While she never attempted to publish anything, she was very talented at both. She gave me a love of reading, and I was the only kid in elementary school that was allowed to check out more than five books at a time.

Only when I had my children did I feel the need to begin writing. I filled several notebooks with stories, drawing on my time spent on my island home and the adventures I had growing up.

I love simple good old-fashioned adventures and am a sucker for a good love story. I was the first to shed a tear while watching The Notebook or A Dog Named Christmas on TV.

For a number of years, I played the part of Professional Storyteller and it was during that time that I created a story entitled The Red Ribbon: a story of Hope for Greenville Family Partnership to use in the National Red Ribbon Campaign. That story became an award-winning book that sparked a nationwide storytelling/book tour that lasted over two years.

Retired from storytelling, I am now spending time writing and updating my other books.

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I create all the book covers, which is almost as much fun as the actual writing.

I would like to encourage others to try their hand at the art of writing. Today it is so much easier than it used to be, and the cost is very little for self-publishing. Buffalo Mesa Mummy and Charleston: City of Secrets is part of a series I plan on continuing. I was born on Folly Beach, South Carolina, and Folly Beach Homecoming is the first of another series that I hope to continue.

Annie Cray Smith was my Great-Grandmother and she penned the story of her life growing up in the Richmond area. She was a great writer, and I decided that the old faded copy I had needed to be put into book form. I learned a lot about my family history working on that project.

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I am near finishing my 7th book and look forward to several more.

 

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