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Chris Kuzneski
I grew up in Indiana, PA, with my parents and three
siblings. As a fourth-grader, I wrote my first book, The
Monster Cookbook, a work of fiction that detailed the
culinary and nutritional needs of a dozen creatures that I'd
created. The school's librarian was so impressed that she
had it hardbound and placed in the school's library with all
the books that my classmates enjoyed reading. Unbeknownst to
her, a career in writing was born.
I attended Indiana High School where I was voted Class Clown
of my senior class and anchored the offensive line on a team
that won back-to-back CENPAC championships. I continued my
football career at the University of Pittsburgh ? playing
with future NFL stars Tony Siragusa, Jeff Christy, Mark
Stepnoski, Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, Marc Spindler, and many
others ? while working on my B.A. in writing. Unfortunately,
a freak foot injury ended my athletic career. (That, and a
severe lack of athletic ability.)
While studying at Pitt, I wrote for The Pitt News,
the Indiana Gazette, and the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette, eventually earning my B.A. in writing and
my M.A. in teaching. From 1992 until 1998, I taught English
and coached football in two western Pennsylvania school
districts and was selected to Who's Who Among America's
Teachers. But in my mind, I still wasn't doing what I wanted
to do. I wanted to be a writer. So I quit my job and took a
leap of faith . . .
I finished my first book, The Lesson, in 1999 and was
confident that it would get me noticed. Unfortunately, I was
right. My 1000-page monstrosity did get me noticed by
several agents ? just not in a good way. Their advice? Write
a second book and make it 600 pages shorter. Otherwise,
you'll be back on cafeteria duty before long.
Well, I might be a Polock, but I ain't stupid. I followed
their suggestions and finished The Plantation
less than a year later. Before long, I had an agent (Scott
Miller at Trident Media), and my novel was being praised by
James Patterson, Nelson DeMille, Lee Child, and several of
the top writers in my genre. I followed that up with two
more books.
A few years back, I moved from Pittsburgh to the Gulf Coast
of Florida where I've been enjoying the sun, surf, and
hurricanes ever since. I'm currently single (and looking)
and working on my next novel.
Books:
The Plantation, July 2009
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