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Gary Rukin
Gary grew up in Rogers Park, a neighborhood on the north side of Chicago, where he was influenced by a love of writing, literature, and music. When he was a young child, his mother asked him if he ...view moreGary grew up in Rogers Park, a neighborhood on the north side of Chicago, where he was influenced by a love of writing, literature, and music. When he was a young child, his mother asked him if he would like to take something to bed with him. He asked her what he should take. His mother said, "Something you really like," so he took a record album to bed with him.While in high school, he was fortunate to discover the No Exit Coffeehouse near his home, where he was introduced to folk and blues music, poetry and jazz. A string of musicians came through the coffeehouse, including Steve Goodman, John Prine, Bob Gibson, Michael Smith, Jim Brewer and Art Thieme.While quickly learning that poetry and folk music were not the best ways to support himself, Gary never stopped writing poetry, stories, and songs, and learned to play the guitar. After a brief career as a sound engineer, Gary worked designing and building electrical controls, later going back to school and earning a master's degree in community counseling. It was during this time that he began writing River of Arpeggios, only to discover that a career in community mental health left little time or energy for writing. After his recent retirement, Gary picked up the novel where he left off, and found a renewed energy for writing and playing music. He is currently working on a second novel, Leda & the Swan, as well as a book of poetry, and is considering publishing a collection of his short stories. He works part-time as a psychotherapist.Gary resides in McHenry County, Illinois, thirty miles northwest of Rogers Park, with his wife, Sherry, their dog Carly, and two cats, Mr. Tucker and Heather. He hopes you enjoy his work as much as he enjoys writing.view less