John V Konior

I will be turning 75 in a few months, but was told just the other day I didn't look my age (but that was at the physical therapist, so I have to take the comment with a grain of salt). My wife and I retired mid 2011, and we moved from Houston, Texas to a small rural town where it's quiet. The two of us live in a small house with our calico cat, Peanut.

I like to keep busy, and my wife, Sharon, manages to oblige with "honey-do's." We both love to go fishing, both fresh and salt water, and living close to a large lake has its advantages. Beyond God, and my wife ... fishing, writing, and wood-working are my passions.

Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, and later residing on Long Island, I worked in Manhattan in a building across the street from Battery Park, not far from the ill-fated Twin Towers. Despite working in a corporate environment, I always considered myself a "blue-collar individual" of sorts, preferring my friends to be from "down-to-earth unpretentious individuals," many of whom were commercial fishermen and clammers. Even then, I had a fondness for Cajun food.

I lived in a family oriented neighborhood out on the Island. You often found me playing touch football, and street hockey with the neighborhood dads and kids. We often held neighborhood family burger and hotdog parties on weekends.

Having a boat, I plied the waters of Great South Bay, and became quite knowledgeable. One day, the spirit moved me to write articles for a local sports fishing magazine, "The Long Island Fisherman." This was back in the 70's, mind you.

A lengthy writing quietus ensued, during a period where I moved from New York to Florida, worked in Texas, and then relocated to Colorado where I met Sharon. We got married, moved to Kansas City, then to Florida, then to Houston, Texas, then to Chicago, Illinois, then to Austin, Texas, and then to Houston, Texas where we moved from after our retirement. To say we led an active life is an understatement (it was all employment related).

Despite working full-time, it was at the urging of Sharon that I write a book, and I did. That book, "The Secret of Big Pine Key," was published back in 2006.

Following my first novel, I collaborated with my son, Ted, and published a second book, "From The Realm Beyond," during 2008. It was my son's story, and he's a great writer ... the book a very, very scary read!

The flood gates then opened what with publishing a book made easier by Amazon and its affiliate, CreateSpace. I published three additional books, "How's It By You?" "Fish Heads 'Aargh' Tails Tales," and "The Quest for Moby Piscivorous." I recently published two new books. "The Mystery of Somber Bay Island," and "Poems, Puzzles, and Short Stories."

The latter book was inspired by my joining a world acclaimed literary site, FanStory.com. There I learned to dabble in writing poetry. I even wrote short stories, one of which won a writing contest. I've been rewarded several "All Time Best" awards on the site for a number of my writes.

My wife, Sharon, has been an inspiration to me, and she's kept "my head on straight" all the years we've been married. I've always had a tendency to be too rambunctious and outspoken. She's a devout Christian, and has made me a believer, a better person.

I have three kids from a previous marriage, two sons and a daughter. My oldest, John, lives on Long Island (having endured Hurricane Sandy), my other son, Ted, and my daughter, Maria, reside in Florida. I have three grandchildren ... two live in New York, the other in Pennsylvania, and four great-grandchildren (all boys) ... also residing in New York.

I learned from my wife that life's worth living, and when you give, it comes back to you many folds.

I like an analogy I saw because it's something to keep in mind: "Today, you're as young as you'll ever be, and a day older than you were yesterday." Aside from that, I favor this saying: "Fish and relatives stink after three days!"

God bless all, God bless America, and "tight lines" to all you anglers out there.