Primavera
I did not become a serious writer until later in life. I simply could not find my way in the business worlds; so, writing and the visual arts arose from the ashes of despair. John Kouzmanoff, a retired elementary school teacher helped me through the doldrums of my disparate existence. Over time, he talked about his life and the fears that held him back. Suddenly, I eased up on myself and those dreaded anxieties became less noticeable.
John, however, passed away from kidney failure while vacationing in Salt Lake City. This man of 65 who once marched every single time Martin Luther King, Jr. came to Chicago, softly touches my heart whenever nothing seems to go right. Humility and love are all I ever need or to reach out (desire) for that matter.
Rest in Peace John.
Mark Schoedl was born in Racine, Wisconsin in July of 1960. From a youth to a young man, he cherished the things “all Wisconsin.” From the change of seasons to Wisconsin football, he closely held onto the state’s traditions while secretly questioning everything behind the scenes.
Mark Schoedl was born in Racine, Wisconsin in July of 1960. From a youth to a young man, he cherished the things “all Wisconsin.” From the change of seasons to Wisconsin football, he closely held onto the state’s traditions while secretly questioning everything behind the scene.
Mark Schoedl’s love for writing was ignited by two childhood teachers who saw a spark in his words, a spark that brought life to the page. This early recognition fueled his passion for writing, even when the world seemed to turn a blind eye. His college years were marked by struggle as he grappled with the rigid standards of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Business School. But in the face of adversity, Mark found solace in the English Department. The works of literary giants like Shakespeare, Marlowe, Johnson, and Dryden offered him refuge from the economic theories of Keynes and Friedman.
Despite facing resistance from an English professor who tried to suppress his short stories, Mark persevered. He continued to write, even when his pencil artwork and pastel work were lost in a friend’s stolen box truck. With nothing left but his writing abilities, he turned adversity into opportunity. In 2012, he published two children’s books, “A Place in the Sun” and “It’s a New Day,” drawing inspiration from Aesop.
Books
