Education

Bachelor, Valparaiso University, 1970. Master of Arts, University of California at Los Angeles, 1973. CPhil, University of California at Los Angeles, 1975.

Master of Fine Arts, University Iowa, 1979.

Career

Teacher, coach Lutheran High School, St. Louis, 1970-1972. Carnival barker Ted Towne Entertainment, Los Angeles, 1973-1975. Teaching assistant University of California at Los Angeles, 1975-1976.

Assistant editor Institutions Magazine, Chicago, 1978. Teaching fellow University Iowa, Iowa City, 1978—1979. English professor University New Orleans, since 1979, dean Liberal Arts College, 2000—2004, provost, vice chancellor academy affairs, 2003—2008.

Creative writing director, since 2008. Film critic Gambit Weekly, New Orleans, 1980—2008.

Works

Works Gallery

• book

  • A House Divided

    (Set in the civil rights era, A House Divided explores the...)

  • A House Divided

    (Set in the civil rights era, A House Divided explores the...)

  • With Extreme Prejudice: A Novel

    (A year after his attorney wife is killed in a car acciden...)

  • Courting Pandemonium

    (Raised by an outspoken single mother, Mac coaches women's...)

  • With Extreme Prejudice [Advanced Reading Copy]

• Other Work

  • Author: (novels) A House Divided, 1999 (William Faulkner award 2000), The El Cholo Feeing Passes, 1985, Courting Pandemonium, 1986, With Extreme Prejudice, 1993, (play) Ash Wednesday, 1998, (screenplay) Early Warning, 2001. Columnist: Balcony Seats, since 1980 (Alex Waller Memorial award 1984). Actor: (film) Early Warning, 2001.

Membership

Board director Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, since 1986. Member Valparaiso University Christ College National Council. Member Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists association (treasurer Gulf South 1993-1994), Authors Guild, Press Club New Orleans (board director 1993-1995, Alex Waller Memorial award 1984, Outstanding Journalism Performance award 1985, 91, 92, 96, 99, 2004, Criticism prize 1984, 86-90, 92, 94, 97, 2000, 01, 02).

Interests

• Other Interests

  Tennis, squash, golf.

Connections

Life partner: Joyce Markrid Dombourian.