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About The Author |
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| Geoffrey Verdegast | ||
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For those of you who don't know me (and there are millions) I'm Geoff Verdegast—politically incorrect social misfit, greasy-handed backyard mechanic, cranky eschewer of ubiquitous handheld communication devices, and half-starved author of the literary fantasy novel, OF STAVES AND SIGMAS. I'm also a pseudo-talented charcoal and scratch-board artist (see OSAS's cover), an amateur photographer, and a self-trained hobo who specialises in aimless roadside wandering, sleeping under bridges, hopping freight trains, and stealing fresh-baked pies from window sills. Looking back, I actually think it's fitting that I didn't produce my first novel until I started to creak open the doorway to my middle age. Although it's true that the fundamental ideas for what would become OF STAVES AND SIGMAS have been with me since my college days, I knew that I wasn't experientially equipped in those fledgling years to do them literary justice. In my twenties, and even through my thirties, I don't think that I—or my writing—had attained the maturity necessary for properly exploring and delineating the complexities of this story and its multi-faceted characters. Shelved, then, for a number of years, only when I felt sufficiently tempered by the triumphs and the hard knocks of life did I finally resurrect my earlier draft; and, finding the plot compelling and undiminished by time—and highly adaptable to my far more competent literary machinations—I have spun it into the well-received volume that you see before you. Good stories, they say, are timeless. I grew up reading 1960's Marvel Comics and Famous Monsters of Filmland, watching 1950's science fiction films, Frank Capra movies (I especially love Meet John Doe), pretty much anything from the early Hal Roach studios or the Three Stooges (I'm a long-standing Shemp-o-phile). Bookwise, I've always enjoyed the fiction of Richard Matheson (in all of his various literary, teleplay, and screenwriting pseudonyms) and the scientific and philosophical non-fiction of Isaac Asimov. I have also pretty much read the covers off of all eleven Edgar Rice Burroughs's "Mars" books (I dare say that ERB has been one of my greatest influences in choosing to write my own adventure novels). Homer's Odyssey, however, remains my favourite story ever; I find it not only a magnificent work of fiction, but to me it is the metaphoric mother lode for the entire human condition. Last, but never least, much of my general day-to-day silliness can be attributed to my well-worn copy of Edward Lear's Nonsense Omnibus. Having lived in Europe for a few years in my youth, I was quickly instilled with an unquellable fondness for mediaeval cities and ruins, for classical composers, for old mythology and lore, and for diverse cultures in general. And, of course, for British English. Stir all of these ingredients together, add a bachelor's degree in English, and you just might glean what it is that compels and drives my imagination. These concepts, and more, are what I inject into my writing. Since I'm well-aware—and have been told sundry times—that a large percentage of readers won't even consider taking a gander at the first instalment of an uncompleted series, I've refrained from going all-out on the John and Jane Q. Public marketing of OSAS. Instead, I've been working dilligently (okay, maybe not so dilligently) on Book Two—and eventually Book Three—in hopes of one day being able to rope in a few of said most stubbornly persnickety hold-outs with the long-laboured lure of a finished product. At this rate, however, I might have to rejigger my aim toward the toddler demographic, since I'm guessing that they'll be adults by the time I wrap this long-winded epic up. And me? I'll be looking like Rip Van Winkle by then. And in the poor house. But you, gentle reader, can change that! Simply take pity on this cynical old Philistine and check out Book One anyway. If you're a bit literary, a bit adventurous, a bit into dynamic characterisation, and aren't one bit scared of being challenged, step right up and see to what length I'll go to entertain and enchant and provoke you. And who knows, I might even make myself sound all sagely and respectable in the process. NOTE: Although this website is more storefront than interactive forum, I still invite my readers to e-mail me with comments, questions, and engaging discussion. I do read every message and make every attempt to respond as time and deadlines permit. You may reach me at: gverdegast [at] gmail [dot] com. Feel free to bookmark this website to stay current on SOULS OF ERGOS news and updates! May I also recommend?
OF STAVES AND SIGMAS An Uncommon Fantasy Adventure with a Literary Flair! | ||
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