As a writer I work in short fiction, personal essays and poetry, but the emphasis of my teaching career has been in writing about literature and in argumentation about controversial current issues.  Too frequently matters of great public concern--civil rights, public policy, the war-- are being distorted by rhetoric intended to deceive reasoning. I want my students to pause and think about the messages they encounter and to express their own opinions with clarity.

I enjoy theater. This summer I produced Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park at Oak Grove Theater near Staunton. Although my favorite role has been as Falstaff in Henry IV, my favorite line is from Lady Windemere's Fan--"We are all lying in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."

My wife and I live on a 230 acre farm near Verona. Our children are the fifth generation of the family to live here. We raise sheep, cattle, and a full complement of horses, dogs, cats, peafowl, chickens, ducks, and varmits. While I've never won any awards for my writing, at least on the farm I can usually be found outstanding in my field.