About VGwrites
Stories, Reviews and Commentary
Book Review Reading Fee
I love to discover new stories and authors. To help dedicate the time needed for thoughtful reading, then give reviews the care they deserve, I ask you, "buy me a coffee, even two." Its a small, non‑refundable reading fee.
The donation supports the review process, yet doesn’t guarantee a published review. If your book is reviewed the evaluation will be consistent, fair, and high‑quality. Thank you for understanding and for trusting me with your work!
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Who Am I ?
Storyteller, author, editor, blogger, and retired university professor of Creative Writing, my career as writer, educator and speaker spans more than four decades of literary exploration. From Central Florida and Central New York bases, I continue to occasionally teach and consult while most of my time is dedicated to writing.
My latest children’s book, Grandma Found a Gecko, remains in print and delights young readers with its warmth and humor. I also coauthored numerous anthologies. I am most prominently featured in the acclaimed Thrill of the Hunt series and The Gathering.
My poetry collection 10 Stories Down (2011), inspired by extended stays in Beijing, continues to resonate with audiences worldwide. I am also featured in Mo Joe: The Anthology. An earlier chapbook, Like A Dry Land: A Soul’s Journey through the Middle East (2005), inspired by travels in the Kingdom of Jordan and other parts of the Middle East, continues to enlighten readers.
Earlier publications include Life and Other Things I Know: Poems, Essays and Short Stories (1999), African American Children’s Stories: A Treasury of Tradition and Pride (2002), Grandma Loves You: My First Treasury (2003), African American Stories: My First Treasury (2003). He has also contributed to Take Two, They’re Small, an anthology of poems, memoirs, essays, and fiction centered on food.
Beyond those, my poetry, fiction, and essays appear in a wide range of journals and magazines. Some include Yellow Medicine Review, Washington Living, Upstate New Yorker, The Southern Quarterly, Reporter Magazine, Drylongso, Fyah, MentalSatin, Pinnacle Hill Review, Invisible Universe, Bridges, Konch Magazine (edited by Ishmael Reed), New Verse News, UpandComing Magazine, About Time Magazine.
Through that diverse body of work, I built a reputation for weaving cultural heritage, global experience and human connection. I continue to inspire readers of all ages.
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