Turner Payne

I was raised in the Deep South, washed in prose by masters of the Southern Renaissance and post-World War II world: Faulkner, Wolfe, and Welty are among my most influential writers. It would not be a complete list of my favorites; however, if it didn’t include another Southern writer of sizable reputation—John Grisham.

I grew up playing sports and hunting / fishing. After all, what's a “southern boy” to do beyond that what's expected of him?

In high school, an English teacher suggested that I take up writing poetry for the school newspaper. It was then that I initially felt the unbridled exhilaration of seeing my name credited to a creative work. I still enjoy that today.

In closing, there is one final topic of major importance... I’m a Christian who believes that Jesus Christ is God's only path to eternal salvation. I urge each person reading these words to earnestly heed the call of God and seek a personal relationship with His son, Jesus Christ.

On that, as is often said in the Deep South, “We’ll be seein’ you around… And, bless your heart.”