Ruth C. Howard

After a lifetime of various occupations, I have, at the ripe old age of 80+ at last found my niche - creative writing. Although I enjoyed most of the things I have done over the years and am proud of my accomplishments, nothing has given me more pleasure than sitting at my computer and bringing characters to life. I don't create them; they simply speak through me. I have been able to incorporate many of my personal experiences into the stories I tell, but naturally there is a lot of dramatic license necessary to make the stories happen.

Brought up in Woodstock, NY during the 1940's and '50's, my formative years brought me in close contact with an abundance of music, theater and art. My parents imbued me with a true love of the arts. Aside from the fiction I have written, I also published a family history entitled "LONG TIME PASSING: History of a Jewish Family."

Touring with the Robert Shaw Chorale in the late 1950's provided me with fodder for "Betrayal in the South;" my love of the game of bridge led easily to "Murder on Cape Cod" and "A Director Dies;" my current living situation and a guided tour of McDill Air Force Base couldn't help but lead to "Terrorism Begins at the Home;" the big splash in the news regarding a couple of stand your ground court cases had to lead, of course, to--what else??--"Stand Your Ground;" living in Sarasota for over 20 years and working (???) in real estate made "Murder on Longboat Key" a natural; and one of my favorites, "Table For Eight," is based on my memorable cruise through the Panama Canal.

My short story resulted from the trials and tribulations involved in growing old(er) and learning how interpersonal family relations change. It seems to hit home with quite a few people of retirement age.

For those who prefer more personal details, I have one son who is an attorney, a daughter-in-law who is also an attorney, and three lovely grandchildren, all tin their twenties at this writing. My original career was as a classical singer, which included a year at an opera house in Germany, followed by many less exciting endeavors. I ended my working life as a real estate agent, duplicate bridge director and teacher, and a brief stint as a legal assistant. But nothing has brought me the true pleasure I find in writing.