Clyde Edgerton dubbed modern day Mark Twain
Ashley Barker
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Lifestyles
"He's a 20th century Mark Twain who captures the spirit and the vernacular of North Carolinians," said English professor Dr. Kathy Rugoff. "At the same time universal themes emerge in his fiction."
Rugoff speaks of Clyde Edgerton, a creative writing professor and author, who has written five best-selling novels, among a number of other stories.
Edgerton, who grew up in Bethesda, NC, is known for his southern style of writing. Many of his novels like "Raney," "Walking Across Egypt" and "Lunch at the Piccadilly" have strong southern dialogue, typically Baptist values and embrace southern hospitality and culture.
His writing career began in 1978, one year after graduation from the UNC Chapel Hill with a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction. After having many of his early works rejected, he finally published "Raney," in 1985.
As his career continued, his notoriety rose. "Walking Across Egypt," a 1999 story about a Southern religious woman named Mattie Rigsbee who makes friends with a dogcatcher and his orphaned nephew, became a movie that starred Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Ellen Burstyn. Later in 2004, "Killer Diller," a novel about a car thief, musician and autistic piano player who become friends, was also made into a movie.
In addition to being a writer Edgerton is a professor. "I'd say that I'm split 50-50 between professor and writer. But, it depends on the time of year. During the summer I am 100 percent writer and trying to get other writers published," he said.
He was a high school English teacher, then an associate professor of English and education at Campbell University and St. Andrews Presbyterian College before becoming a full-time writer from 1989-1998. He resumed teaching as a visiting professor at UNCW in 1998 and became a full-time creative writing professor here in 2002.
Edgerton promotes his novels by hosting events where he reads from his best-sellers. Not quite as well-known as his novels, Edgerton has a musical CD entitled "The Safety Patrol" recorded with his band Rank Strangers. The band plays original music from the musical version of "Lunch at the Piccadilly," his 2003 novel.
Rugoff speaks of Clyde Edgerton, a creative writing professor and author, who has written five best-selling novels, among a number of other stories.
Edgerton, who grew up in Bethesda, NC, is known for his southern style of writing. Many of his novels like "Raney," "Walking Across Egypt" and "Lunch at the Piccadilly" have strong southern dialogue, typically Baptist values and embrace southern hospitality and culture.
His writing career began in 1978, one year after graduation from the UNC Chapel Hill with a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction. After having many of his early works rejected, he finally published "Raney," in 1985.
As his career continued, his notoriety rose. "Walking Across Egypt," a 1999 story about a Southern religious woman named Mattie Rigsbee who makes friends with a dogcatcher and his orphaned nephew, became a movie that starred Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Ellen Burstyn. Later in 2004, "Killer Diller," a novel about a car thief, musician and autistic piano player who become friends, was also made into a movie.
In addition to being a writer Edgerton is a professor. "I'd say that I'm split 50-50 between professor and writer. But, it depends on the time of year. During the summer I am 100 percent writer and trying to get other writers published," he said.
He was a high school English teacher, then an associate professor of English and education at Campbell University and St. Andrews Presbyterian College before becoming a full-time writer from 1989-1998. He resumed teaching as a visiting professor at UNCW in 1998 and became a full-time creative writing professor here in 2002.
Edgerton promotes his novels by hosting events where he reads from his best-sellers. Not quite as well-known as his novels, Edgerton has a musical CD entitled "The Safety Patrol" recorded with his band Rank Strangers. The band plays original music from the musical version of "Lunch at the Piccadilly," his 2003 novel.
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Cheryl Barker
posted 10/02/08 @ 5:29 PM EST
I thought the article was very good and descriptive of Mr Edgerton professional life and his effort to write.
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