About Jeff Rasley:
Jeff Rasley lives on the White River in Indianapolis with Alicia and Bandit. Jeff is the author of nine books. His first published writing was melancholic-adolescent poetry in the Hanover College Fine Arts Journal. Over 50 feature articles in law, travel, spirituality, and human interest followed in Newsweek, Chicago Magazine, ABA Journal, and other periodicals.
Jeff dropped out of college, saved money from factory work, then hitch-hiked across the USA. Money earned on a road crew financed travels in Europe and motorcycling from Indiana to Mexico City. Marriage and kids lessened travel time, but he leads Himalayan treks and mountaineering expeditions, has scuba dived throughout the Caribbean, and sea-kayaked in Palau, Tonga, and the Greek Isles.
Jeff’s commitment to social activism and philanthropy began in high school when he co-founded the Goshen Walk for Hunger. In law school he fought for renters’ rights and organized the first rent strike in Indiana as president of the Indianapolis Tenants Association. He was lead counsel on class action suits for prisoners which resulted in the construction of two new jails in Central Indiana. Jeff was plaintiff in a class action requiring clean-up of the White River after it was polluted by an industrial chemical spill. Jeff is president of the Basa Village Foundation, which funds culturally sensitive development in Nepal. He is a director for five nonprofits. He is U.S. liaison for the Himalayan expedition company Adventure GeoTreks Ltd, and teaches philosophy of philanthropy at Butler University.
Jeff’s BA is from U of Chicago magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, All-Academic All-State Football, letter winner in swimming and football; JD Indiana University Law School cum laude, Moot Court, Indiana Law Review; M Div Christian Theological Seminary magna cum laude, co-valedictorian and Faculty Award Scholar. He has been admitted to the Indiana, US District Court, and US Supreme Court Bars.
Jeff describes reading Marcel Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past as great an adventure as climbing Himalayan peaks.
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 7 nonfiction books were inspired by experiences, adventures, and contemplation which compelled me to write about meaningful life lessons 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 do 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.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Yes, I hear them in my head. But, I don’t talk back to them. They are engaged in their own conversations in their own world.
What advice would you give other writers?
Read works similar to what you want to write. Keep a journal and have the means to write or record anything that comes to mind at any time, including when you are in bed and awake. Find the best time, place, and environment to inspire creativity and discipline.
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?
Interactive media is going to become increasingly important. I think published media will become more interactive involving video and other additions to written content. Ebooks are just the first step in different ways to enjoy 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,sports nonfiction,philosophy-theology
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print, Audiobook
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
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
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