from The Houston Chronicle
Radio personality, author Sanders returns with mystery novel | June 13, 2014
Sanders, a retired educator, taught theater, literature and writing at Aldine High School. He began his 30-year teaching career in Brownsville, where he taught choir and theater before moving to the Houston area to teach at Aldine. In addition to his writing career, Sanders also serves as on-air personality for Houston's Sight Into Sound Radio, where he reads the Houston Chronicle to the blind and visually impaired.
"'Special Effect' was actually drafted before 'Thirteen Therapists,' but it has taken many years to get it just right and entice someone to publish it," Sanders said in an email as he discussed his two published books. "It grew out of my love for the theater. I wanted to try my hand at a mystery, and since that alone was a big task, I knew that I had to remain somewhat in my comfort zone, so I chose a setting and a world that I’m intimately acquainted with, the world of the theater."
Sanders summarizes "Special Effect" as follows: The novel tells the story of Nick Fortunato, a loner high school senior who has a talent for theatrical lighting. He is working alone in the theater one day when out of the shadows steps a young man who wants to lend a hand. As the two get to know each other, Nick realizes that this newfound friend harbors a secret, one that the boy himself does not remember. Nick has to decide to unravel this mystery and perhaps lose his new friend forever.
"I feel that as a writer, I am an actor," Sanders said. "Just as in acting, as a performer builds a character from the ground up, a writer does the same. In the theater, actors have words given to them by the playwright, but those are clues that lead to, hopefully, full-bodied portrayals of the character on the page. I, as a writer, envision a character and then must build all the character traits just as if I am an actor acting that role."
A "Tex-Mex" junkie, Sanders says he'd eat cheese enchiladas every day of his life if his friends would allow it.
Even when traveling, Sanders said he always seeks out the distinct Southwestern cuisine. He has traveled to many countries, including Indonesia, India and Japan.
As for hobbies, he loves reading.
"I am proud to say that I’ve read both the Bible and "War and Peace," cover to cover."
NAME: Russell Sanders
AGE: 67
OCCUPATION: Retired educator
COMMUNITY CONNECTION: Sanders volunteers his time at Sight Into Sound Radio reading the Houston Chronicle to the blind and visually impaired.
FAST FACT: Sanders is a world traveler who eats "Tex-Mex" wherever he can find it.
Lynn K. Loyd is a freelance writer. She can be reached at [email protected].
Radio personality, author Sanders returns with mystery novel | June 13, 2014
- Sanders recently published his second novel, Special Effect.
Sanders, a retired educator, taught theater, literature and writing at Aldine High School. He began his 30-year teaching career in Brownsville, where he taught choir and theater before moving to the Houston area to teach at Aldine. In addition to his writing career, Sanders also serves as on-air personality for Houston's Sight Into Sound Radio, where he reads the Houston Chronicle to the blind and visually impaired.
"'Special Effect' was actually drafted before 'Thirteen Therapists,' but it has taken many years to get it just right and entice someone to publish it," Sanders said in an email as he discussed his two published books. "It grew out of my love for the theater. I wanted to try my hand at a mystery, and since that alone was a big task, I knew that I had to remain somewhat in my comfort zone, so I chose a setting and a world that I’m intimately acquainted with, the world of the theater."
Sanders summarizes "Special Effect" as follows: The novel tells the story of Nick Fortunato, a loner high school senior who has a talent for theatrical lighting. He is working alone in the theater one day when out of the shadows steps a young man who wants to lend a hand. As the two get to know each other, Nick realizes that this newfound friend harbors a secret, one that the boy himself does not remember. Nick has to decide to unravel this mystery and perhaps lose his new friend forever.
"I feel that as a writer, I am an actor," Sanders said. "Just as in acting, as a performer builds a character from the ground up, a writer does the same. In the theater, actors have words given to them by the playwright, but those are clues that lead to, hopefully, full-bodied portrayals of the character on the page. I, as a writer, envision a character and then must build all the character traits just as if I am an actor acting that role."
A "Tex-Mex" junkie, Sanders says he'd eat cheese enchiladas every day of his life if his friends would allow it.
Even when traveling, Sanders said he always seeks out the distinct Southwestern cuisine. He has traveled to many countries, including Indonesia, India and Japan.
As for hobbies, he loves reading.
"I am proud to say that I’ve read both the Bible and "War and Peace," cover to cover."
NAME: Russell Sanders
AGE: 67
OCCUPATION: Retired educator
COMMUNITY CONNECTION: Sanders volunteers his time at Sight Into Sound Radio reading the Houston Chronicle to the blind and visually impaired.
FAST FACT: Sanders is a world traveler who eats "Tex-Mex" wherever he can find it.
Lynn K. Loyd is a freelance writer. She can be reached at [email protected].