David Eugene Perry – Bio
Ahoy! My name is David Eugene Perry and hopefully you’re enjoying, or about to enjoy, my novel “Upon This Rock” from Quilldriver Books / Pace Press.
Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia I graduated from the State University of New York at Fredonia (it’s not just a place in the Marx Brothers movie “Duck Soup”, but that’s another story) and then set about my career as a freelance writer and publicist in Washington, DC with stints along the way as a cocktail pianist and a catering waiter for swank Capitol Hill parties and presidential inaugurations (truly, but that’s another book, still underway).
Moving to San Francisco in 1986, I continued writing for such publications at “The Advocate”, “American Theatre”, “Opera Now”, “Omni”, “The Utne Reader” and “The San Francisco Examiner.” And, of course, being the first of who-knew-would-be TWO pandemics of a lifetime, the AIDS/HIV years were full of activism, advocacy, hearts, hugs, held hands and volunteering. Those friendships and bonds forged in “Baghdad by the Day” still enrich me.
In 1997 I was offered the job of childhood fantasies: working my way around the world by ship as editor of the onboard newspaper for the glorious “Crystal Symphony” (long may she sail). Back on dry land, I stumbled into an AOL chat room and met the best thing that ever happened to me, my husband Alfredo. Whenever we can, we still travel aboard ship, usually in exchange for my nattering on about old ocean liners in one of my maritime history lectures.
Over the last 27 years, we’ve visited a LOT of places. As Mark Twain famously said: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”
We agree totally.
When I’m not writing, along with my husband and several dedicated associates, I run a public relations and design firm with a bevy of interesting clients — from stars to those with starry eyes (www.davidperry.com).
Our home is in Palm Springs. Most of our work and our office is in San Francisco. Our heart: wherever we are currently exploring, with special nods given to Spain, Italy and of course, that magical hilltop town of “Upon This Rock” – Orvieto. Stay tuned: “Upon This Rock” is now in its second print with a screenplay being shopped (“Dear Netflix Big Wigs….call me maybe?”) and a sequel in the works, reuniting our sleuths Adriano and Lee plus the enigmatic political operative, Magda.
Until then, as my Virginia always said: “There are three magic words – ‘please’ and thank you.’ “ So, “please” keep supporting authors, and “thank you” for picking up “Upon This Rock.”