Contact: Adam Cothes, Publicist, WinePress Publishing Group, 360-802-9758, adam@winepressgroup.com

ENUMCLAW, Wash., Aug. 14 /Christian Newswire/ -- As far back as he can remember, Donn Taylor wanted to do "creative" things. During his teen years, it was music. As a college undergrad, he began writing poetry. But during his careers as Infantry officer, Army aviator, and professor of English literature, Taylor simply didn't have time "to do justice to the arts."

Now that he's retired, Taylor is rediscovering his creative roots, penning a suspense novel ("The Lazarus File"), a mystery ("Rhapsody in Red"), and a volume of poetry ("Dust and Diamond").

"The thought processes for writing poetry and prose are quite different," explains Taylor. "Poetry is more compact and requires much more intense concentration, while fiction requires sustaining a mood or voice over long periods of calendar time."

When Taylor writes poetry, he blocks out a morning to draft a poem. When he writes fiction, he works in several two-hour blocks per day over a period of days.

Whether he's crafting poetry or prose, Taylor strives to make his writing accessible to ordinary readers. In "Dust and Diamond" (Pleasant Word, 2008) he uses a variety of poetic forms to reflect on substantive subjects as varied as life itself:

• What would Christmas be like if people sang carols about what they are really interested in?
• Do pets take on the personalities of their masters?
• What does an Infantry officer think and feel just before leading a night combat patrol?
• What would it be like to escape the fallen Earth into an unfallen world?
• How would a minor biblical character perceive a major biblical event?
• Is tolerance of diversity a blessing or a curse?
• If marriage were a landscape, what would it look like?

 
Taylor plans to continue writing both prose and poetry, for the sheer pleasure it brings and for the joy of entertaining others. "I hope my writing persuades readers to see their own life experiences in new and revealing lights," he says.

To order, visit www.winepressbooks.com or call 877-421-7323. For a review copy or to schedule an interview please contact Adam Cothes at 360-802-9758 or adam@winepressgroup.com.