M.J. Downing

M. J. Downing is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. Born in Shively in the spring of 1954, he was raised in Okolona. He resided in the Highlands for twenty years before marrying his wife, Amy, and moving to Valley Station. He has friends and relations in all parts of Louisville, beyond those just mentioned. The Downings are members of St. Paul United Methodist Church and are active in its ministries.

M.J’s interests are in this order: God, who is the Mystery; family, Amy and daughter Mackenna; writing stories; reading, everything from comics to criticism; playing guitar; all things Celtic; working out; walking; watching movies; travelling; and the comforts of home. He is a certifiable Tolkien geek and will wear you out with it, if given any encouragement.

For employment, M.J. has been a firefighter, a construction worker, a tobacconist, and a teacher. Since 1983, he has taught college writing and literature classes, spending the last quarter century doing so at Jefferson Community and Technical College, Southwest. Retired from teaching now, he is a creature of regular, predictable habits and, right now, is likely at the gym, sweating, or at the coffee shop or his desk in the garage, writing. Wherever Amy is, of course, is home. Check out M.J.’s blog posts and other events at www.markstories.com.