February 2022 Notable Author: Wayne Thomas Batson

“Dead heroes do nothing to protect their people tomorrow.” – Wayne Thomas Batson

Wayne Thomas Batson, the author of the The Door Within trilogy, was born in Seabrook, MD in 1968.  He had an adventurous childhood and adolescence that included: building forts in the woods, crabbing and crayfishing in bays, ponds, and bayous, playing lead guitar in a heavy metal band, and teaching tennis lessons at the local recreation center. He attended Gabriel DuVal Senior High School.  He wrote for the school’s newspaper and literary magazine, was voted “Most Talented” in his senior year, and said his Senior Goal was, “To become a published author.” Little did he know that God had even greater plans for him which eventually included a front page article in the Washington Post, and National TV with Fox and Friends.

Batson became a Howard County school teacher, teaching Reading and English to middle school students.  His first writing came about because of his students.  Many times he could not find the “right” story to go with a certain lesson, so, he’d write the story he needed.  But the spark that led Batson to write seriously was when his students challenged him to complete one of the homework assignment he’d given them.  Batson’s story was 17 pages written in green ink on loose leaf paper. His students loved it. They asked Batson to make it into a movie. The result was the The Door Within trilogy.

Batson  is a lifetime lover of all things fantastic, creepy, and/or peculiar. He says he writes Fantasy or Speculative Fiction because he believes that,  “deep down, we all dream of other worlds and long to do something that matters.”  He describes Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings trilogy as his gateway to the genre of fantasy, and stated, “I'd have never become a fantasy author if it weren't for his epic works. I reread it every chance I get.”

The Door Within Trilogy was published by Thomas Nelson Publishing House in 2006.  In 2007, he wrote Isle of Swords and then its sequel Isle of Fire in 2008. To date, Batson has penned or coauthored seventeen novels and has sold well over half a million copies.

Wayne Thomas Batson gives thanks to God for the abundant life he’s been given.  He and his wife, Mary Lu, raised four children and live in Eldersburg, MD.

Genre: FANTASY/SPECULATIVE FICTION

Fiction that incorporates magical, otherworldly components into the narrative. The setting is entirely fictional but still contains elements that resemble the real world.

Sample Reading List: The Door Within Trilogy; The Dark Sea Annals; Isle of Swords.

Writer's Prompt - Fun With Words

Maryland Writers’ Association (MWA) invites you to have fun writing Fantasy like Wayne Thomas Batson. With just 100 words, place a character into a setting that is entirely fictional but still contains elements that resemble the real world.

Title your work and submit to: https://marylandwriters.org/Notable_Maryland_Authors  by the 22nd of the month to receive an MWA Fun With Words submission certificate. Selected responses will be published with next month’s article as well as posted on the MWA website.

Submit Your FUN WITH WORDS Prompt

The MWA is a 33-year-old state-wide association (501c3) dedicated to encouraging and mentoring Maryland writers, poets, playwrights, and authors. Go to:  www.MarylandWriters.org for more info.

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