Sad news has hit the creative writing community as celebrity biographer and creative writing coach Randy Jernigan has recently declared his retirement from the writing and publishing world following a deterioration in his health as a result of kidney failure and Heart Disease. The Losing to Win author told me of his decision to retire over a phone call I made to him about a writing project offer.
“There’s no guarantees in this life,” Randy explained to me of his situation. “the days of deadlines and fussing with temperamental magazine editors are over for me—at least for now,” Randy says. But despite the annoyance of his forced retirement, he’s careful to leave the door open for a potential return. “I’ve worked all my life—this retirement stuff is hard but I still believe in miracles..,”
“I still read all the offers my agency sends me—and some of the projects are really hard to turn down but I know my limitations,” Randy explains.
I felt encouraged by a hint of optimism in my friends voice. “Things change, sometimes for the better. I’m choosing to have some hope for a better future,”he says.
As of right now the author spends around 13 hours a week hooked up to a kidney dialysis machine, several hours a week in medical consultations with doctors, or brunching with his best friend, author Les Bailey. “My friends are very important to me—they get me through the hard times,” Randy says.
Best known for his biographical sketches of celebrities, his juicy short fiction or his radio show hosting gigs, the author acknowledges that his health issues leave him in an exhaustive state making it difficult to accomplish what he used to. “But through it all, I choose to look up. I’m not finished yet..,”
“There’s no guarantees in this life,” Randy explained to me of his situation. “the days of deadlines and fussing with temperamental magazine editors are over for me—at least for now,” Randy says. But despite the annoyance of his forced retirement, he’s careful to leave the door open for a potential return. “I’ve worked all my life—this retirement stuff is hard but I still believe in miracles..,”
“I still read all the offers my agency sends me—and some of the projects are really hard to turn down but I know my limitations,” Randy explains.
I felt encouraged by a hint of optimism in my friends voice. “Things change, sometimes for the better. I’m choosing to have some hope for a better future,”he says.
As of right now the author spends around 13 hours a week hooked up to a kidney dialysis machine, several hours a week in medical consultations with doctors, or brunching with his best friend, author Les Bailey. “My friends are very important to me—they get me through the hard times,” Randy says.
Best known for his biographical sketches of celebrities, his juicy short fiction or his radio show hosting gigs, the author acknowledges that his health issues leave him in an exhaustive state making it difficult to accomplish what he used to. “But through it all, I choose to look up. I’m not finished yet..,”