News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Entertainment

August 30, 2012

Former newspaperman, mystery writer to speak at Rockville Library

ROCKVILLE — A former small-town newspaperman who now spends most of his time writing novels, John Pesta, will give an informal talk about his first book at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Rockville Public Library.

The book, “Safely Buried,” is a mystery set in Meridian County, a fictional place in south-central Indiana. The setting bears a strong resemblance to Jackson County, where he has lived since 1972.

His novel won a silver medal in the mystery/cozy/noir category of the 2012 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Pesta is now writing another mystery that unfolds in beautiful, bucolic, but not always peaceful Meridian County.

Born and raised in Allentown, Pa., Pesta has lived in Indiana most of his life.

After graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 1965, he earned a master’s degree in English literature at the University of Virginia and then spent a year as a Fulbright fellow at the University of London. He taught at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for two years before deciding to give up the academic life in favor of journalism.

Pesta and his wife purchased The Brownstown Banner, a weekly paper, in 1972. A few years later they began putting the paper out twice a week, and a few years after that they built Banner Cablevision, the first cable-TV system in Brownstown. They sold their two businesses in the late 1980s so that they could pursue their creative interests.

“Giving up my academic career was a wrenching decision,” Pesta says, “but I have always felt that it was the right move for me. Working in the real world, among all kinds of people, helped me to become a better writer.” His short stories have appeared in numerous literary magazines, among them Sou’wester, The Florida Review, Farmer’s Market, Prairie Schooner and Indiannual. His wife, Maureen, is an artist whose pastel paintings have won many awards.

During the past quarter century, in addition to writing fiction, Pesta worked five years as senior writer at the Agency for Instructional Technology in Bloomington, where he helped produce the print components of multimedia educational programs.

From time to time he returned to the classroom to teach writing courses at IUPUI-Columbus and Ivy Tech in Seymour.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Entertainment
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
Tiger on Sergio: 'It's Time to Move On' RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail Rain Damages Brazil Soccer Stadium Raw: NASCAR Driver Jason Leffler Dies in Wreck Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park 3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter Raw: Marines Land Osprey on Japanese Ship Falling Cable Hurts 10 NASCAR Fans Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City Pa. Girl Who Took on Donor Rules Gets Lungs NYC 911 Call Lasts for 8 Hours Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin Robot Action Connected to Human Thought Obama Seeks G-8 Support on Syria Prosecutors Push for Smartphone "Kill Switch" Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent' Google Launches Internet-beaming Balloons
NDN Video
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent' WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab Sofia Vergara Posts Perky Backside Pic in Thong Gaga Ditches Her Crazy Couture Caught on Tape: Teacher Accused of Beating Autistic Child "Stay Classy" Campaign Aims to Curb Binge Drinking Sesame Street Tackling Tough Topic Parents in Jail Miss Utah Fumbles Interview Question Deranged man claims Newark-bound flight was poisoned
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News