M. Barron Stofik, about the author

On the day I was born, the U.S. Marines raised an American flag on Mount Suribachi on the Pacific island of Iwo Jima. I thought that was awfully sweet of them. I learned later that they had other reasons, but I still like to think of it as a thoughtful gesture. The only practical result of this is that I can always remember on what date that famous event happened.

I grew up in the Midwest and managed to graduate from two high schools the same year. Then I went to the University of Miami. It was warm in the winter. There were palm trees. I decided that South Florida was a good place to live, so I stayed almost thirty years.

My present base of operations is a small town in New England. It has a village green with a white-steepled church at one end as is mandated by Congress for all small New England towns following intense lobbying by calendar publishers. People travel great distances in SUVs each autumn to take pictures of our foliage. None of them stay to help us rake up the leaves

Much of my career was spent working at radio stations. TV sitcoms portray radio stations as wacky places populated by loveable oddballs. This is totally misleading. Some are just odd. I've also worked for newspapers and magazines, written corporate literature, video scripts, political campaign material, newsletters, promotion and public relations matter, educational publications, some books and a lot of advertising copy.

Many of the subjects on which I write now are an outgrowth of my years of involvement in various community organizations, which eventually led to my being elected to three terms as a member of city council. I have mixed feelings about the fact that I was never approached by anyone offering me a bribe. On one hand, I could be flattered that I was seen as incorruptible. On the other, maybe I was perceived as simply not having enough influence to be worth the money.

In addition to writing, a lot of my attention is spent keeping track of a bright, beautiful daughter. The job has become more complicated since she went off to college. Now she wants to go to law school. Tuition is high. Please buy lots of books. If you don't like the ones I've written, I have boxes full of used ones written by other people. I'm sure there's something in there that you'll like.

I'll be adding new pieces to this site on a regular basis, so please check back from time to time.

~Marty Stofik