David Marion Wilkinson, a fifth-generation Arkansan, has lived in Texas since 1972. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1980 with a B.A. in English, although he doesn't understand why. The author has worked as a carpenter, mortgage loan officer, an investigator for a civil trial firm, in the oil fields of Texas, Louisiana, Saudi Arabia and the North Sea, and as a part-time ranch hand in Texas’ Big Bend, and occasional hunting guide in the Texas Hill Country. For nearly four years he was also the writer-in-residence for Sul Ross State University. His second novel, The Empty Quarter, draws upon his experiences in the North Sea and Saudi Arabia. His first, Not Between Brothers, won the 1997 Violet Crown Award (Barnes & Noble/Writers League of Texas) for fiction, was a Spur Award "Best Novel of the West" finalist, and was selected "Editors Choice" by The Review of Texas Books. The 15th Anniversary Edition of Not Between Brothers will be released in April of 2010.
His short story, "Opening Day," published by ReadWest Online Magazine, won the Western Writers of America 2000 Spur Award for Best Western Short Fiction.
His third novel, Oblivion's Altar, the true life story of the Cherokee Chief Major Ridge, was released by NAL in November, 2002. Major Ridge championed the "civilization" movement within the Cherokee Nation and was the driving force behind the organization of a centralized, constituted government only to be blamed later for the Trail of Tears. Oblivion's Altar won a 2003 Spur Award and was selected as a finalist for the 2003 Oklahoma Book Awards.
Wilkinson co-wrote a memoir with retired Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson. At the twilight of Jackson's 27-year career with the Rangers, Texas Monthly magazine featured his image on their bestselling edition ever (February, 1994). Jackson went on to act in feature films The Good Old Boys, Dancer, Texas, Rough Riders, and Blue Sky. Now in its 10th printing, One Ranger: A Memoir has become the fastest-selling book in the history of the University of Texas Press.
The author spent nearly ten years with
Todd Allen and Bonnie
Orr adapting The Empty Quarter for the screen. The project is
currently optioned to
Presidio Pictures where it remains in development.
Wilkinson is currently at work on a historical novel set in West Texas
in the 1950s. He has also written an original screenplay with
celebrated Dallas director Kelli Herd. Ms. Herd produced and
directed It's in the Water, among other feature films.
The author lives in Austin, Texas.
MY FAVORITE LETTER FROM A READER
Dear David,
I purchased your book, on a whim, after you spoke at a luncheon in Dallas about six years ago. At that time, I was not a reader and only bought the book because I had never owned a book signed by the author. I grew up with undiagnosed ADD and had always regarded reading as torture rather than a pleasurable past time and had no illusion that I would read this one.
One day, after I grew tried of going through the paper during my commute to work each day, I finally picked up NOT BETWEEN BROTHERS and thought I would attempt to read it. Within a few pages, and for the first time ever for me, my mind's eye was seeing, hearing, and feeling the essence of each character and event. Each day I couldn't wait to get on the bus to begin reading. There were many times that I would be so engulfed in my reading that I would only be brought back to reality when people started filing off the bus.
After I read NOT BETWEEN BROTHERS, I read Kathryn Graham's autobiography and THE PRIVATE LIFE OF CHAIRMAN MAO and many more.
I just finished NOT BETWEEN BROTHERS for the second time. Of all the books that I have read between the first and second reading of your book, it still remains my favorite book. In fact, I liked it more the second time.
I promised myself that I would write you someday and thank you for the joy that your book started in my life, the joy of reading.
This is the first time that I have looked you up on the "web" and was happy to see that you have another book on the market. It will be my next read.
Thank you for your amazing gift to the literary world in this book. Thank you for your unwitting gift to me. I remain one of your most avid fans.
Sincerely,
Mark Grimes
Click below for a Podcast interview with David Marion Wilkinson:
http://texanareview.typepad.com/posts/2008/06/an-interview-wi.html
Click below for an interview with David Marion Wilkinson:
http://www.elizabethlyon.com/interviews.htm
and
OBLIVION'S ALTAR
on Nashville Public Radio
http://www.wpln.org/fineprint/fineprint2003/fineprint051003.html
CLICK below FOR AN AMPERSAND INTERVIEW WITH DAVID, his editor and agents:
http://www.inkdance.biz/ampersand_one.htm