Jerry C Blanton

I wrote my first poem and drew my first picture at three years old. Now I have published more than forty books. To make a living, I have worked as a high school English teacher, bookstore manager, academic dean, copywriter/proofreader, English professor, editor, and tutor. I was raised in the USAF and have lived in Arizona, Washington, Southern California, Japan, Northern California, Wyoming, Alabama, and Florida. Since my last stop was my favorite, I have lived in Florida as an adult. I have lived in many places in Florida. I arrived in Miami in 1980 and I have lived in Miami-Dade County ever since. My first published book, however, was a book of poetry "Monsters in a Half-way House" that was published in Tampa, by the Tampa Bay Poets. Tampa was a crucible for me, for in Tampa I realized I was a writer and artist and should pursue that as my dharma. I have written mostly mysteries and historical novels, but other genres too.