Leppek, Christopher 1954-

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LEPPEK, Christopher 1954-

PERSONAL: Born October 3, 1954, in Saginaw, MI; son of Robert (in sales) and Liesel (a counselor and homemaker) Leppek; married Lisa Manion (a typesetter), June 7, 1980; children: Noah, Adam. Education: Attended University of Denver.

ADDRESSES: Home—1016 South Washington St., Denver, CO 80209. E-mail—RedRaven75@aol.com.

CAREER: New Lyons Recorder, Lyons, CO, reporter, 1977; Intermountain Jewish News, Denver, CO, assistant editor, 1977—. Military service: U.S. Navy, became petty officer second class.

AWARDS, HONORS: Journalism awards for spot news, features, commentary, and investigative reporting; Best in Category designation, Amazon.com, 1999, for The Surrogate Assassin.

WRITINGS:

The Surrogate Assassin (mystery novel), Write Way Publishing (Aurora, CO), 1998.

(With Emanuel Isler) Chaosicon, Write Way Publishing (Aurora, CO), 2001.

Contributor of articles and stories to magazines and newspapers, including Beyond, Rocky Mountain News, Navy Times, and Pueblo Chieftan.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Dark Seed, a mystery, with Emanuel Isler; Apollonia, an historical romance and fantasy; Seed of Oblivion, a police mystery, with Isler; Abattoir, a horror novel, with Isler.

SIDELIGHTS: Christopher Leppek told CA: "I feel that fiction and literature must be more than artistic expression alone. It is at its heart a means of communication between writer and reader. This communication reaches its highest level when it manages to move the reader—to convey an emotional impact or message. I consider other messages—aesthetic, intellectual, or moral—to be subordinate to the emotional.

"I have no mental 'idea' why I write, but I have always known that I need to do it. It is more an imperative or instinct than a conscious choice. Similarly, I do not analyze my reasons for choosing particular subjects or themes; I simply accept them. Such analysis might be compared to dissecting a frog. Through the dissection one learns a great deal about the frog. Unfortunately, the frog must die in the process."