Background Information   

Randal discovered his love for writing fiction at the age of nine. He entertained his young friends by telling them stories on the school bus. He is an ex-marine who studied literature at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He has written seven screen plays and four novels.

Born in Texas, Randal was raised in Arkansas and now lives with his wife, Anna, in her home state of Wisconsin.  Randal has five children.  Jennifer and November are both grown and married and have children.  Randi is a senior at the University of Arkansas, due to graduate in May 2004.  Terry, the only son, is a seventh grader, and Heather is a third grader.  Of course, they are still at home in Wisconsin.    

Randal has traveled extensively and is always curious of new places and ideas.  He has a keen eye for detail and good ear for dialog.  He uses his skills in his narrative, and you find yourself drawn to his characters. 

Randal is a guitar player and singer/songwriter.  He was the front man in several club bands and played throughout the south.  Although he no longer performs professionally, he still enjoys playing and singing.

 Accomplishments

Randal is the 2005 Shirley Lee Award winner.  The Shirley Lee Award is presented anually by the Fox Valley Writer's Group.  It is awarded for the best Short story, poem or essay of the year.  Randal won for his short story What Happened To Etiquette.

Randal has worked in television and radio.  In fact, his passion for writing has led him into acting.  He has appeared in seven films, most notably as Frank in Crown International's 1989 release, Top Cop.  Randal broke into acting when visiting the set of Pinnacle Productions 1984 film, White Gold, at the invitation of director Mark Maness after Randal had pitched an action adventure script to Mr. Maness.  An actor was ill and did not arrive for the scene, and due to time constraints, that scene could not be rescheduled.  Randal volunteered to play the part.  He did not think much about it at the time, but a few days later acting agent Ginger Coffee contacted him and signed him as a client.

But writing remains his true passion.  He has optioned three scripts.  Although Close To The Edge is his first novel to be published, it is the fourth that he has written.  Currently he is writing his fifth. 

 Additional Information

 Randal is a member for the Wisconsin Regional Writers' Association and also a member of the Council for Wisconsin Writers group.

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