T. D. Arkenberg

TD Arkenberg is an author of novels, short stories, and memoir. Independent Publishers (IPPY); Pirate's Alley Faulkner-Wisdom; Next Generation Indie Books; ScreenCraft; National Indie Excellence Awards; Eric Hoffer Awards; Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA EVVY) are among the literary organizations who've honored his writing.

Trials & Truffles, Expats in Brussels (2020), the author's second memoir, tells of his two years living in Belgium with his husband. In addition to an account of the highs and lows of expat life, Arkenberg laces the book with blogs written during his residency on an array of fascinating including primers on Champagne and mussels.

A Belgian Assortment (2018) is the author's first collection of short stories also culled from his years in Brussels. Pirate's Alley, Faulkner-Wisdom, Slippery Elm, and ScreenCraft honored several of the stories. Windy City Reviews recommends the book, "for people who love well-written and compelling short fiction. A Belgian Assortment is a skillfully written collection by an author with command of his craft....Arkenberg’s Brussels is a city I could not bear to leave."

Two Towers (2017), is a poignant memoir focusing on three threads of the author's life that converge simultaneously: his work for a global airline targeted by the September 11 terrorists; the deaths of his parents; and a struggle with a decades-old secret. The snowballing effect almost buries him before he grabs an unexpected lifeline. Pirate's Alley Faulkner-Wisdom, National Indie Excellence, Next Generation Indie Books, and Colorado Independent Publishers Association honored the memoir, the last awarding it a coveted, First Place EVVY Award. The book's publisher named Two Towers its Book of the Year for 2018!

TD's three novels are each as unique and as vibrant as the world in which we live.

None Shall Sleep (2016), set in London, Buenos Aires and Italy, is the story of Isabella Fabrini. Tired of life as a corporate drone, she sets her sights on the opera stage. The book is a tale of love, loss, friendship, and triumph. Pirate's Alley Faulkner-Wisdom and National Indie Excellence Awards have recognized this book.

Jell-O and Jackie O (2014), captures the glamour and calamity of the 1960s including the emergence of Jackie Kennedy Onassis as a cultural icon. At its heart, this is a story of family and complex relationships with those we love. Independent Publishers awarded the book an IPPY for best regional fiction. Eric Hoffer Literary Society named it a Shortlist Finalist for their grand prize, and 1st runner up in Legacy Fiction. Next Generation Indie Books, National Indie Excellence, and Pirate's Alley Faulkner-Wisdom have also honored the book.

The author's debut novel, Final Descent (2013), taps into his lengthy career at a global airline. Dealing with themes of struggle, greed, and Faustian bargains, the book is set in the Machiavellian world of corporate America.

A short story, Hollywood Calls, appears in Circle of Words, an anthology of Brussels-based writers. (Harvard Square Editions 2016). Two more stories appear in the group's second and third anthologies, The Circle (2018) and The Circle 19 (2019).

TD earned an MBA from The University of Chicago and a BA in Literature from Northwestern University. He also studied at the London Business School. He's active in several writers groups including the Barrington Writers Workshop and Off Campus Writers Workshop in Chicago and the Brussels Writers Circle. Repatriating to the US, he and his spouse make their home in the Chicago area along with their favorite Belgian souvenir, a precocious tiger cat.

Visit www.TDArkenberg.com and the author's Facebook Page for more information.