Hi, welcome to A Grateful Man. May you always feel at home and welcome here.
My name is Russ Towne. I have a wife who I call My Beloved, three adult children, and three grandchildren. My Beloved and I were married so young that we basically grew up together.
I follow my passions wherever they take me. I love investing and did it for at no charge for friends and family for years, and then began doing it professionally in March of 2003. I’m still doing what I love, but now I’m even getting paid for it!
I’m a late-bloomer. I was convinced that I didn’t have a creative bone in my body until I was 52 years old. Then, in about 2010 a friend named Denis Loiseau invited me to co-write a song with him. His invitation was the spark that lit my creative candle. I loved the process and the experience, and co-wrote several songs over the next 3 years. (You’ll find several of them on Amazon.com, Spotify, Muve Music, X-Box Music, and iTunes.)
Just click the link to the page titled “Buy My Songs” on this site, or go to the other sites mentioned and type “Russ Towne” in the search field.) One song–-my favorite so far-–”Nature’s Symphony” may need to be found by looking up my co-writer’s name for that song, Kevin Harris. I accidentally omitted my own name when listing that song. (Yes, that falls into the “misadventures part of this blog!)
I began writing poetry in October of 2012 and wrote over 60 poems in my first 8 months as a poet, and I’ve written a bunch more since then.
I began writing children’s books in about May of 2013, and my first two books were published three months later. You’ll find them on Amazon.com or you can just click the link to the page on this site called “Buy My Books.”
Welcome!
Russ
Russ Towne's A Grateful Man 
Thank you for following me I am so grateful. xx
It is I who am grateful to have found your lovely site. Thank you for creating your blog and sharing glimpses of your beautiful spirit with the world.
🙂 thank you for your kind words!!
Thank you for your comments on my blog! I am definitely going to check out your poetry on your other blog because that is what I live for! Hahaha. Lovely to have come across you 🙂
Thank you. Same to you. I wish you much fun and continued success on your adventures.
Russ
Hi Russ, so there’s hope for all of us? Phew! I look forward to catching up on your experiences. I have a lot to learn about parenting and being the writer I feel I was created to be. I like when I happen upon a blog like yours. Blessings!
I love your comment. May you always feel welcome and a home here!
Russ
Thank you for having me and for your kind words.
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Thank you, Ute!
Russ
I wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for ‘The Versatile Blogger’ Award because I think your blog is very unique and you have found your own special voice. Please feel free to display the Award on your blog or to keep it as a sign of appreciation.
http://simplyilka.com/2013/11/23/the-versatile-blogger-award/
Thank you for your kind nomination and comments, Ilka. Due to time constraints, I no longer accept blogger awards that have a list of things I must due to accept them, but I am greatly honored and inspired by the nominations, kindness and generosity of bloggers such as yourself for taking the time to nominate my blog.
Warm Regards,
Russ
Thank you so much for your kind words. No need to do the ‘award-procedure’. Just take the nomination as a sign of my appreciation for you and your blog. I am glad to be in touch 🙂
Thank you for your gracious reply. May you always feel welcome and at home here.
Warm Regards,
Russ
this is wonderful, looking forward to read all your poems, I appreciate talents. 🙂
Thank you, Ahmed. May you always feel welcome here.
Russ
Wow, I am so encouraged by your testimony! Yes, we are all creative and I am so glad you tapped into that, even if you consider it to be “late blooming” :-). All the best!
Thank you, Kim. May you always feel welcome here.
Russ
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Thank you for your kind comments!
Russ
Providence led me to your blog in the form of a suggestion from a reader of my poetry blog. Everything happens for a reason, and I am glad to have found A Grateful Man. I look forward to exploring what you have shared. Peace. ~ Michael
I’m grateful to your reader for connecting us, Michael. May you always feel welcome here. I plan to explore your blog today and look forward to the experience.
May lasting joy be yours.
Russ
And Peace to you my new friend. Sheri De Grom thought it would be good for me to contact you. I am grateful to her for that and many other things. Have a great day! 🙂
I too am grateful Sheri de Grom has come into my life. You’ve given to me yet another.
Peace to you my new friend.
Russ
Hi Russ ~ I’ve begun reading your stories on CSB and wanted to pass by your blog as well. What a wonderful collection of work you have created. My husband and I are also fern collectors – we have a balcony garden in the SF Bay area…I’ll do a more thorough reading of you CSB stories soon and shall share my thoughts.
Until later ~
Ellespeth
Thank you for your kind comment, Ellespeth. May you always feel welcome at my blogs:
http://russtowne.com A Grateful Man. Non-fiction topics
http://imaginingsofagratefulman.com Flash fiction and fiction short stories
http://agratefulmanspoetry.com
Like Ellespeth, I’ve been reading you on CSB and love your work. Your story here about the blooming of your creativity is an amazing one. Like magic. Your “Hearsight” story finally got me over here to ONE of your blogs 🙂 Glad I came, you are very very very talented!
Hi, Patti. I was about to sign off for the evening when I saw your comment. I’m grateful I read it as your kind comment warmed my heart and brightened my night. I’ll be going to bed with a smile on my face. May you always feel welcome at any of my blogs.
Russ
So cool, to put a smile on your face 🙂 Sweet dreams!
Thank you, Patti. I not only had sweet dreams, I had a dream about some new characters that can be used in a series of short stories, and if I ever get that ambitious, perhaps one or more novels. (See what your kind comment last night inspired?) ;-D! I plan to introduce the characters at my blog Imaginings of a Grateful Man later today. http://imaginingsofagratefulman.com.
Thank you!
Russ
Great news, Russ, I will check it out.
P
Thank you for the follow, it’s very encouraging.
Terry
I read a couple of your stories and enjoyed them, so following was a natural thing for me to do. I wish you much success or continued success as a writer, Terry. I believe you have real talent.
Russ
You are very kind thank you……..I’ll keep writing them as long as people keep reading them.
Terry
(Big Smile!)
Russ
Such an impressive resume’! I am eager to take a stroll around your blog world and from what I’ve seen and read thus far I know that I will visit often. I recently finished my first short story and have written numerous poems. I most enjoy writing poetry for children and short horror stories- not for children of course. I realize these are actually polar opposites but what’s a girl to do. I like what I like! So now I’m off to explore. If time permits stop by and check us out- I think you’ll be happy that you did.
I somehow missed your comment earlier so I’m sorry for the delayed reply. Thank you for your kind comment. It sounds like you’ve been quite busy with various writing adventures! I write thrillers and children’s stories so can relate to your “polar opposite” comment and feelings.
Russ
Hey Russ. I just wanted to let you know I nominated you for a Blogger Award which basically means you won an award from me to you my friend! You can read all about it here http://www.tunisiajolyn.com/2016/01/29/oh-look-at-me-getting-an-award-and-shit/ And if you’ve already won or you don’t feel like doing the whole thing, that’s fine by me. 😊
Another late bloomer here…good to meet you.
Good to meet you too. We should start a Making Up for Lost Time Club. ;-D!
Russ
It’s an exciting time of life. David Bowie is right, old age is the astonishing act of becoming the person you were meant to be…
I may be paraphrasing…
LOL! Poetic license! I love Bowie’s/your message.
Russ
Love this website, Russ. You certainly deserve your success. I’m glad you dropped by my site as it gave me the chance to browse yours.
I too was a late developer, publishing my first thriller at the age of 68 and my second, a co-authored effort, aged 70. I have several more works in progress including two new short stories I wrote this week. I also do painting and needle crafts as shown on my website.
Thank you for your kind comment, Carole. May you always feel welcome here.
Russ
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