Menefee, David W. 1954-

PERSONAL:

Born August 24, 1954, in Fort Worth, TX; son of E. Doyle (a bank president) and Eunice C. (in sales and finance) Menefee. Education: Texas Christian University, B.A., 1976. Religion: Christian.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Dallas, TX. Agent—Harriet Wasserman, Harriet Wasserman Literary Agency, Inc., 137 E. 36th St., New York, NY 10016. E-mail—davemenefee@aol.com.

CAREER:

Writer.

WRITINGS:

Sarah Bernhardt in the Theater of Films and Sound Recordings, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2002.

The First Female Stars: Women of the Silent Era, Praeger Publishers (Westport, CT), 2003.

Contributor to Dallas-area newspapers.

SIDELIGHTS:

David W. Menefee told CA: "The primary motivation for writing biographies is an inner desire to learn the truth about a prominent person's life, and the joy that comes from sharing that story with others interested in the same subject. The main driving force in composing a fictional story is the desire to entertain, move to emotion, and fascinate a reader with a stirring tale. I love the intricate weave of details that makes up a mystery novel, and I enjoy exploring fictional characters within the context of a historically accurate story, too. Working on a nonfiction biography is a lonely exercise involving years of research, an analysis of detailed information, and locating and restoring rare photographs. The end result is a work that pleases and informs readers who are interested in the subject.

"The writer who had the greatest influence on my work was James Oliver Curwood, a spinner of stories of life and adventure in the frozen wastelands of Canada.

"The writing process I experience begins with the impregnation of an idea in my head, which then festers with utmost irritation until I flesh out the details and put it down in words. In the case of a nonfiction work requiring a great deal of research, the journey begins with a single photograph of the person in which I see some kindred spirit that connects with me. From there, the hunt to learn everything about that person becomes an obsessive compulsion that does not end until the full story becomes known.

"Inspiration can come from many sources: a dream, a painting, even a childhood experience that haunts the inner mind for decades until it is brought to closure by its release in the form of a story. I believe all inspiration and success comes from God. One way or another, every effort traces back to Him and how he wants to use us during our brief passage through the open terrain of a life on Earth."