Bill Rayburn

Updated November 25, 2012

Hello,

My name is Bill. 52 years old, twice divorced, no children, and currently living in London, England. I have been writing prolifically (that means "a lot", not necessarily well ;=}) for the past year or so, and have amassed a collection of short stories of fiction, and opinion pieces of non-fiction on cultural events, world affairs, and probing into the psychology of why people behave like they do. I have more than enough for a book of these pieces and am currently looking for a publisher.

In addition, I have written a 10,000 word novella, titled “The Dainty”, set in 1969 Detroit: One day in an Irish Pub, and that day is Christmas Eve. The dysfunctional denizens of The Dainty plow through a fierce snowstorm, cocktails, and their personal baggage as Christmas Eve plays out before them.

I have also written a slightly longer piece on President Obama keeping a fictional diary and holding late night bull sessions/cocktail hours with his porter, an older black man from Chicago in the Oval Office. There are so far 5 diary entries and the succeeding sessions with his porter so far, at approx. 12,000 words. There will be more to follow, and probably this will grow into book length. It is written in real time, commenting on current events through the voice of Obama.

I am currently at work on a novel/memoir of my family, starting with, and revolving around, my father and his year-long stay in a Nazi POW camp in WWII, up through his suicide in 1979 after my mom divorced him. They had six children, three boys and three girls, four of which remain alive today.

I have lead an interesting life so far. Some hi-lights: married at 22 to Susie. Divorced at 26. Remarried at 35 to Laura, divorced at 36. Single since then.

Lived for a month in a Left Bank flat in Paris in 1998, a trip that was much more a soul-searching sojourn than a pleasurable vacation in the City of Lights. Fell in love with the city.

Now in London, I am further rejuvenated.

I hail from the San Francisco Bay Area, born and raised. San Carlos was my home (20 miles south of SF) for the first 18 years of my life. I have lived for six years (1990-96) on the east coast of America, in northern New Jersey, a stone’s throw across the Hudson River from Manhattan (NYC). I fell in love with the bohemian lifestyle and ambiance of Greenwich Village, a virtual island of sanity and safety on the southern end of the island of Manhattan. Could easily live there someday. In fact, could easily live almost anywhere I found interesting and fascinating and progressive in its culture and politics.

I am a secularist. I am pro-gay rights, pro-choice on abortion, virtually pro-choice across the board on most issues. Fairness is probably the single most important word in my vocabulary. It crosses EVERY issue, and I reside on the side of fairness virtually every time. Live and let live. Politically, if pressed, I might label myself a Libertarian. Never a Republican; maybe in some cases a Democrat. Clearly an independent in all things that matter. I am a reluctant alpha male with no posse, no entourage, and no desire for any of that bullshit.

I am currently in love and committed to the most wonderful woman I have ever met or loved or been lucky enough to have love me. I go to sleep next to her, I wake up next to her, and I want neither of those aspects of my life to change.

We have recently brought a dog into our lives, Leo, who is beyond description. Just the perfect dog for us.

Perfect.

If happiness, and feeling content, can spur a writer on to greater heights, than look out above, because here I come.

I am, ascendingly yours, and genuine...

I think, therefore I am.

My favorite quote:

RALPH WALDO EMERSON: "If you are noble, I will love you; if you are not, I will not hurt you and myself by hypocritical attentions. If you are true, but not in the same truth with me, cleave to your companions; I will seek my own."

Bill Rayburn