John D Ferguson

My mother, by way of explaining the questionable antics of some people, was fond of saying, “Experience is a dear school, but fools will learn at no other.” That, probably, goes far in describing her son, John.

Born in West Virginia and raised in poverty, I grew up with an outward persona of smug disregard for life outside the Appalachian foothills; all the while, secretly knowing of and wishing for a more ‘normal’ existence. Through the years, in pursuit of a better life and what all naive children believe to be things-you-can-not-live-without, I learned by doing that life is more than ‘things’ and offers every person a chance to be a part of something grander than himself. The catch is that for some of us, taking that chance is harder than it appears.

As a proud alumnus of the School of Hard Knocks - that which received such disdain from my mother - I have been primarily; son, husband, father and grandfather, and secondarily, a tool of varied and sundry professions with differing degrees of success. But what I have been regardless of anything else is a student. Each step along my way, though unknown at the time, comprised another subject of study and finally gave me the chance I sought.

I have arrived at a point in my time where introspection is warranted and chance taking paramount. The years are much fewer looking forward, than looking back. A dream always carried but never nurtured has been with me since those Appalachian days and I pursue it now with my completed novels. These stories will be the first of many.

I now live in middle class splendor in Georgia, with my wife, Jo, whom I truthfully acknowledge as my better half, and our Shih Tzu dog and master, Katie Scarlet. Between us we have three children and five grandchildren.