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Duane Filer
My name is Duane Lance Filer. I grew up in Compton, California and had one of the greatest, richest childhoods one could have growing up in an “inner” city. My dad was involved in the west coast ci...view moreMy name is Duane Lance Filer. I grew up in Compton, California and had one of the greatest, richest childhoods one could have growing up in an “inner” city. My dad was involved in the west coast civil rights movement, and during the 60’s and 70’s I got to witness and was involved in some wild and crazy events such as the integration of Compton (while picketing Woolworth’s on my dad’s shoulder’s;) the Watts Riot (my dad was in Watts when it broke out;) and other incidents during this important time in American history. Since birth, I’ve possessed an extraordinary memory; an insatiable imagination; and a fascination with writing. I started writing in high school, through college, and during my work years. Now 59 years-old, with my kids having graduated college and their adult lives headed in successful directions, it is once again my time to revisit my writing aspirations and pursue my passion for the written word! Following are the completed, polished works I have edited and hope to publish soon:•Novel – “ Square Squire and the Journey to Dreamstate”Square Squire and the Journey to Dreamstate is a semi-autobiographical story of growing up geeky in the last innocent time when all the basketball players had hopes and none of the gangs had guns.Squire Brooks is a precocious nerd whose only awareness of the transitions in his neighborhood of Compton, California in the 60’s is the opportunity to chuck stones at the increasing number of For Sale signs in the yards of his white neighbors. His father’s deepening involvement in Civil Rights creates increasing chaos in his home where Squire writes his short stories and daydreams. Adolescence brings peer driven lessons about girls, puberty, girls, bullies, and girls as he navigates the temptations during his elementary, junior high and high school years. Squire’s daydreaming has developed into an imaginative mechanism that frees his mind from all the chaos and allows him to escape to a dream state whenever he writes. After graduating high school, and on a road trip with his dog, Julius, Squire meets Octavia Steves who teaches him that his dream state is actually a form of meditation that could help him become the writer of his dreams.•Young Adult/Adult Short Story Collection – “Word Food for Doods”If women can have a chic lit genre, what about a “Dood Food” happy hour? “Word Food for Doods” is a guy’s night-out buffet comprised of 3 short stories; 2 funky one-act plays; and 2 essays that sprout about important men banes. The stories total 22,173 words and 86 pages. Here’s a quick look at what the stories are about:Short Stories1.) “Kemal’s Last Laugh” – Three white, experienced mountain climbers receive a lesson in humility from some unexpected sources as they attempt to conquer deepest, darkest Mt. Kenya in Africa.2.) “Streople” –One day on the streets of downtown Los Angles and one can meet the strangest people....street people...... “Streople.”3.) “A Week in the Life of a Closet Miserable” – I wanna be a writer, but one week leads to the next, and every time I start to write...well...kids...the wife....sports...they all get in the way!One-Act Plays4.) “The Tattle-Tale Grin of Kid Spade – Tells the exploits of a black cowboy, Kid Spade the Blade, in the very wild, unfriendly west of Y’all City.5.) “jazz junkies” - Recounts an important point in the life of band leader Hemp Leeks. Does he follow fame and certain riches or stay loyal to his original band mates?Essays6.) “t.s. etiquette (a.k.a. the toilet seat chronicles) - An essay for men on how to avoid that age-old argument with your woman on whether the toilet seat be left up or down?7.) “the hellcatcher – Caught it all – a sucker soul magnet..... but never caught anything till I caught the hell from being married. My wife is gonna kill me if this is published!•Children’s Short Story Collection - “LongTALES for shortTAILs”I have a children’s short-story collection of 7 stories ready to blow your mind! I call it “LongTALES for shortTAILs.” It’s about real and imagined stories that kids from 2 – 13 years will enjoy. The stories total 14,324 words and 59 pages. Here’s a quick look at what the stories are about:•"Fastjack Robinson" – (ages 2-10 years) – Like a young Jackie Robinson, Fastjack is the fastest rabbit in the world and somebody in Bunny Junction has to stop the Grabbit Rabbit.•"In The Morning" – (ages 2-10 years) - Youngest squirt of 7 kids- “small fry” getting ready in the morning to go with his class to a big city museum. But first, he has to navigate home life with 6 other older siblings (and only one bathroom) while getting ready for school in the morning.•"small fry"– (ages 2-10 years) – Further adventures of young squirt, a.k.a. “small fry” – as he visits the museum in Los Angeles.•Bishop’s First Dog - (ages 2-10 years) – Bishop’s first dog. Do you remember what it was like when you got your first dog?•"Lancie’s Lessons by Letter" – (ages 2-13) – Listen/read as 7 year old Lance offers 5 early lessons on various subjects to his pre-school peers. Oprah – eat your heart out!•"The Night of the Roaring Rain" – (ages 5-13) - First camping trip – and it rains! C’mon......the Boy Scouts...it was great fun for the Scouts, a nightmare for the Scoutmaster – true story!•"Duncan and the Chocolate Bar" – (ages 5-13) – This is it. Story of the futuristic Duncan as he wins a contest and is one of the youngest/hippest to travel to outer-space.I am working on a third novel; write online music reviews for SoulPatrol; I’m a huge Laker fan; the best musicians of all time are Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, and Sly and the Family Stone; and I happen to play a funky bass guitar!Personal InformationI am the proud son of Maxcy and Blondell Filer. My dad Maxcy passed away on January 10, 2011 and was quite well known in Southern California as a civil rights leader – and had the distinction of taking the California bar twice a year for 24 years from 1967 to 1991 before finally passing it on his 48th attempt in 1991. My mom Blondell still lives in Compton, and I got my artistic genes from her. Love you mom! I have been married to my beautiful wife Janice for 34 years. My son Lance and daughter Arinn are both bright, ambitious young adults who have made their parents very proud. I have 6 brothers and sisters (Maxine, Kelvin, Anthony, Stephanie, Dennis and Tracy); a goo gaggle of cousins, in-laws and friends. I hope to retire soon and start the writing phase of my life. Life has been a blast so far!view less
Books by Duane Filer
Square Squire and the Journey to DREAMSTATE Square Squire and the Journey to Dreamstate: Squared Version 2.0 for Teens and Young Adults Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings