Author Bio:
Jeff Rasley is the author of seven books and has published numerous articles in academic and mainstream periodicals, including Newsweek, Chicago Magazine, ABA Journal, Family Law Review, American Athenaeum, Pacific Magazine, Indy’s Child, The Journal of Communal Societies, The Chrysalis Reader, Faith & Fitness Magazine, Friends Journal, and Real Travel Adventures International Magazine. He is an award-winning photographer and his pictures taken in the Himalayas and Caribbean and Pacific islands have been published in several journals.
Rasley has engaged in social activism and philanthropic efforts from an early age. In high school he co-founded the Goshen Walk for Hunger. In law school he was an advocate of residential renters’ rights as a lobbyist and president of the Indianapolis Tenants Association. He is the founder and president of the Basa Village Foundation USA and currently serves as an officer or director for five nonprofit corporations.
Jeff is an avid outdoorsman and recreational athlete. He leads trekking-mountaineering expeditions in Nepal and has solo-kayaked around several Pacific island groups. He also loves to read and considers completing Marcel Proust’s 3600 page Remembrance of Things Past as great an adventure as climbing Himalayan peaks and solo-kayaking Pacific islands.
Rasley is a partner in the e-book publishing enterprise Midsummer Books through which he also provides writer coaching and editing services. He is U.S. liaison for the Nepal-based Himalayan expedition company, Adventure GeoTreks Ltd. He has taught classes for IUPUI Continuing Ed. Program, Indiana Writers Center, and Marian University. He currently teaches philosophy of philanthropy at Butler University.
Jeff is a graduate of the University of Chicago, A.B. magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, All-Academic All-State Football Team and letter winner in swimming and football; Indiana University School of Law, J.D. cum laude, Moot Court and Indiana Law Review; Christian Theological Seminary, M.Div. magna cum laude, co-valedictorian and Faculty Award Scholar. He has been admitted to the Indiana, U.S. District Court, and U.S. Supreme Court Bars.
For chairing the Indiana-Tennessee Civic Memorial Commission Rasley and the Commission received Proclamations of Salutation from the Governors of Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Pennsylvania and he was made an honorary Lieutenant Colonel Aide-de-Camp of the Alabama State Militia, a Kentucky Colonel and honorary Citizen of Tennessee. He was given a Key to the City of Indianapolis for serving as an intern to Mayor Hudnut and preparing a report on the safety conditions of all Indy Parks. Rasley has received the Man of the Year award from the Arthur Jordan YMCA and the Alumni Service Award from the University of Chicago Alumni Board of Governors.
Rasley has given serious and humorous interviews to many broadcast programs and provided programs for service clubs, community organizations, and churches.
What inspires you to write?
My 2 fiction books were inspired by unique, romantic, and wacky experiences. The fictional stories welled up inside me and took off on their own as a creative release from the conflicts the actual experiences developed in my psyche.
The 5 nonfiction books were inspired by adventures which turned into unique, romantic, and wacky experiences. I learned deep and meaningful lessons from these adventures, which I wanted to share.
Tell us about your writing process.
The story comes to me as a whole with, as Aristotle describes, a beginning, middle, and end. I write it out long hand on a yellow legal pad. I don’t finish it in long hand; I write just far enough that I know I really fo have the complete book in me. Then, I begin to write it in Word. I write at least one complete page each day, unless I’m taking a break. But, before I write the next page, I review, revise, and edit what I have already written.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
My first book, “Bringing Progress to Paradise”, was traditionally published. I was very pleased with the result. However, I was very disappointed in the marketing and promotion (or lack thereof) by the publisher. I decided to try direct publishing. The freedom, control, and speed of publication upon completion of writing was much more satisfying. The only thing I missed was the advance.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
More readers enter the world every day. They are growing up with interactive media. I think published media will become more intreactive involving video and other additions to written content. Ebooks are just the first step in differnt ways to enjjoy reading stories. Video games are another media for telling stories that will continue to develop in ways difficult to predict. We don’t know the future, but we do know that telling and hearing stories is essential to our humanity.
What do you use?
Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer
What genres do you write?
romance,legal thriller,historical fiction,sports fiction.,memoir,adventure travel,
What formats are your books in?
Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Jeff Rasley Home Page Link
Link To Jeff Rasley Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on other site
Your Social Media Links
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4114763.Jeffrey_Rasley
http://www.facebook.com/JeffRasleyAndMidsummerBooks
http://twitter.com/jeffrasley
http://www.pinterest.com/pinner362436/
