Tommy
Hello! My name is Tommy. I live and work in Parkersburg, about forty minutes north of Ripley. I met the Wordsmiths when a few of them attended a writer’s meeting that convenes once a month in Parkersburg. I decided to drive down to Ripley and see what they were about, especially since they met weekly. I’ve been attending ever since, although my work schedule and gas prices prevent me from attending as regularly as I’d like.
I used to write poetry and short stories, but I slowly moved on to longer works of fiction. I now have two novels I’m trying to get published. I also have a couple of stories that are too long for short stories and too short for novellas. I still write a short story here and there, and rarely a poem pops out of my head.
I’ve been a writer since I learned how to write. I’ve written a little bit of just about everything. On the nonfiction side of the house, I’ve written biographical and autobiographical work, memoirs, tutorials, technical documentation, computer lab exercises, and online textbooks. In the realm of fiction I’ve written comedy, horror, mystery, modern romance, fantasy, science fiction, erotica, historical, and military action/adventure. I don’t write children’s literature. Almost all of my writing is for adults only.
I’ve also worked as a freelance editor and writing coach. I don’t do that work anymore, but I do enjoy helping friends with their stories.
While the big prize - the book deal - has thus far eluded me, I have managed some level of local success. I’ve had work published in Confluence and Gambit. I’ve been a guest reader for the Blennerhasset Reading Series and a guest speaker at creative writing classes. I’ve also placed a few times in the annual WV Writer’s contest. One of my humorous stories won first place in 2006 and was deemed worthy of publication in Seeking the Swan, a compilation of the best winners over the last decade.
I have a few examples of my work placed on our site here. If you’d like to know more about me or would like to read more samples of my writing, please surf over to my other websites at shannonthomas.org.
My novel has it’s own website at hereticsquest.com. Please stop by and register. Every name on my side helps me get that much closer to making a publisher take notice.
