James Mercurio of Hillsboro, Oregon

      Maybe you shouldn't know that much about me. Sometimes that works better. Grew up in Florida, escaped
      to the Pacific Northwest. For those who might hire me or pay me to entertain others, I've been writing nearly
      twenty years. I have on full length novel completing, and two others on the editing pile as of 2007. I've
      written nonfiction, poetry, personal essays, comedy, short stories, screenplays and some poorly contrived
      song lyrics.

      If I was published by now, I probably wouldn't be writing the content for this website. I'd be too busy
      creating more characters for a novel whose themes I haven't thought of yet. (continued below)

 

      I am influenced by every dumb thing and some beautiful things, too. I spend significant time rewriting movies
      in my head. One of my favorite memories is when my son told me I was funny. I wish I could write as lean as
      Chuck Palahniuk and as meaty as Tom Robbins. I was punched in the gut when Vonnegut died. I had the
      same feeling when Richard Pryor died. Because of the 1980's my favorite band is still the Beastie Boys, followed
      by the Beatles. I think Jack White deserves a Medal of Honor.

      There's not much out there that doesn't affect me. That's why I can't stop writing.

 

      Characters in my stories escape boredom and find themselves through acts of bravery and
      sure doom. None of the women in my stories hate children. I just can't do that. The men
      are usually the heroes but aren't as smart as their female counterparts.

      I love the smart, the geeky, the sarcastic and the sad.

 

 

      To this day, I'd rather be a cartoon.