Member-only story
I Am Richard Haki
A biographical excerpt inspired by Joseph Anton (Chapter 1)
Preface
Salman Rushdie, writer, and citizen of the world, was stabbed last week as he was about to speak on stage near Buffalo. He was almost killed.
As I waited to hear of his recovery, I pulled out a copy of his third-person memoir, Joseph Anton. The book is about Rushdie’s life but also the fatwa issued against him in 1989. He took the first names of two of his favorite writers for the title of the book. Joseph Conrad. Anton Chekhov
I did the same here. Tell me what you think. Then take the challenge.
Prep School
I always loved to read and write. I especially enjoyed reading tough reads given to me by my father. I loved hearing my mother read to me. I especially remember as a teen my father had me read “The Communist Manifesto.”
Yet, I didn’t think of myself as a writer until I went to Archbishop Carroll High School. It was an all-boys high school back then and one of the best in the city of Washington D.C.
I really began to embrace my love of words and writing in 10th grade when my English teacher, David Chrisman, a man who studied Ezra Pound became my teacher. I think I read recently that Mr. Chrisman died years ago. I always…
