Marion man publishes new books

Thane Schwartz, of Marion, has written four books on various topics. All are available through Amazon or at stores throughout Marion County.

The Perch at Dalton Pond is Thane Schwartz’s latest book. In it, the Marion author writes about his journey with his father’s struggle with dementia.

Marion’s Thane Schwartz recently wrote Soul Soup for Chickens. This book and his three others can be found on Amazon or at stores throughout Marion County.

Thane Schwartz is not your typical writer in that he just started using a computer to write last year.

“I can’t believe how much easier it is. It’s like playing the piano—everything I am thinking just flows out onto the keys,” he said.

The Marion man may have only recently started using a keyboard to write on, but he’s always been creating and writing in one way or another.

“I used to act. I did commercials when I lived in Tampa, FL when I was younger and had a few roles in movies and tv shows. In fact, being an actor really helped me with writing my newest book. I put myself back into the role and felt the emotions,” Schwartz said.

The latest book is about his father’s struggle with dementia called “The Perch at Dalton Pond” and his role of “the wayward son of a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps when faced with the prospects of a dying father and the inheritance that he will soon leave behind”.

Schwartz admits writing the book brought up many old memories and hurts.

“Dad didn’t like me acting. He was in the marine corp and wanted me to be tough and get a college degree to have health insurance. There are some resentments,” he said. “When I would walk out of the door in my modeling outfit with my make-up kit, he would look at me like I missed a tackle at the football game.”

He says the book brought healing for him and can for others who have cared for those with dementia or dying. But it’s not light reading.

“It’s got the Christian element. It’s got some dirty words in it. It exposes me. It exposes my family.

It is deeply personal and was painful to write,” said Schwartz.

He didn’t always know he wanted to be a writer although he has always been writing. He got a bachelor’s of science in education, a bachelor’s in special education and a bachelor’s degree in Christian ministry. He also got halfway through a seminary degree. But even while he was teaching and using his teaching degrees, he was writing poetry and other things for fun.

Schwartz is a recovering alcoholic and found that he could write a lot more once he stopped drinking.

He said, “I write because I have to. I used to have to drink. I drank every day for 20 years. Now I’ve been sober for 30 years. I used to drink and write and then quit writing for 20 years. But now it’s back with a vengeance. I can’t get enough. I edit my books in my sleep. I have to keep a pencil next to my bed so I can write stuff down and make the changes the next day since I was so tired of getting up. I can’t stop writing.”

In addition to the children’s book he wrote last year called ‘The Adventures of Boo Boo and Little Mouse’, Schwartz has published two other books, ‘The Things I found in My Cedar Chest: Collections of Poems, Poetry, Poetics, Prose’ and ‘Soul Soup for the Chicken: Inspirational Christian Meanderings’.

He said, “I always have a poetry book in progress. Sometimes I will be watching tv or doing something and it just hits me, and I have to write it down right then.”

Schwartz said he is always either finishing up something or working on the next thing in his brain.

“Poetry is immediate while novels I have to think about and develop in my mind,” he said. “And I always have classical music on while writing.”

He has his next poetry book in progress and has also started a thriller about a priest who overhears a confession that may be a secret he shouldn’t have heard.

Schwartz writes under his company Apostle Publishers. You can follow him on Amazon under his author page: Thane M. Schwartz. His books are available there and also in various stores around the county including St. Luke’s Auxiliary Shop. See his page for more information.

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