Paul Dage

Paul Allen Dage’s first novel in the Eddy Trout Series, "Trout Kill," has been described by one Amazon reviewer as “suspenseful, yes, but also cerebral and introspective.” The story is set in a small Oregon coastal community in 1997. Eddy Trout, the main character, is a 47-year-old bartender who is searching for both his past and himself. He is a damaged man, and his marriage is falling apart. He loves his sister, Emily, who is equally damaged. They have never known their parents, but one day a stranger appears who claims to be their father. Eddy angrily denies it, but this stranger soon turns his and Emily’s life inside out, and Eddy sets out to discover the truth.

His follow-up novel in the Series, "Trout Run," is described by Sean Davis, author of "The Wax Bullet War," as having a "... noirish feel. Dage builds a realistic world of hapless yet hopeful characters from damp soil, pine needles and petrichor. You'll want to read it next to a potbelly, cast-iron wood stove on a rainy night."

With his wife Debra, Dage lives on the McKenzie River in Oregon. He began writing fiction in the mid-‘80’s, and has published a number of stories. Most recently, in 2010 he won a prize from Willamette Writers, a Portland-based writers’ organization, for his Vietnam short story “Guard Duty.” He served a year in An Khe, South Vietnam, in 71-72, as a helicopter crew chief. After leaving the service, he attended Western Oregon University and received his teaching degree in 1976. Before retiring in 2006, he taught English at Canby High School in Canby, Oregon, for nearly thirty years.

Dage subscribes to Portland writer Tom Spanbauer’s philosophy called Dangerous Writing, which encourages writers to be “brave on the page” or, in other words, artistically explore themes that may be personally frightening or embarrassing, such as cultural taboos or traumatic experiences, in order to express those fears. Trout Kill is written in this spirit. It is the first part of a trilogy that explores Eddy Trout’s anguishing journey of discovery and love. Dage is currently writing the second book, Trout Run, which he hopes to publish in about a year.

For more information about the author or "Trout Kill," visit his website at pauldage.com.