Temple, Brian 1955-

PERSONAL:

Born August 20, 1955, in Salem, NJ; son of John Frank and Jean (a homemaker) Temple; married Martha Allen (a teacher), August 19, 1988; children: Sarah, Lauren. Ethnicity: "German, Scotch, Irish." Education: Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), B.A., M.A. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Methodist.

ADDRESSES:

Agent—c/o Author Mail, McFarland and Co., Inc., P.O. Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640-0611. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer. Macy's, Deptford, NJ, shipping clerk, 1977—

MEMBER:

Fort Delaware Society.

WRITINGS:

The Origin of Knighthood, 1991.

The Union Prison at Fort Delaware, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2003.

SIDELIGHTS:

Brian Temple told CA: "My primary motivation for writing is that it's fun. I enjoy the whole writing process: finding a topic, tracking down the information, and putting it together. I've always liked history, and I like sharing that with others, either in the writing or the promoting of a book.

"My work is influenced by writers such as James McPherson, who make history readable. It's also influenced by every history teacher I ever had who kept the subject interesting. My friends and family are another influence; they have always been very supportive, and I want to do my best for them.

"I don't have a set time for writing and research. I work around my family and job. Some days, I'll get up before everyone and do it. Other days, I'll wait until everyone is in bed. I also write during lunch breaks and while I'm waiting for my children at their activities.

"My interest in my topics came from my curiosity about history where I live. I grew up about ten miles away from Fort Delaware, one of the largest prisoner-of-war camps in the Civil War. It was never mentioned in my school. I wanted to know more about it and eventually wrote a book about it. My interest in Quakers and slavery came from my passing an Underground Railroad site when I was young, and it too was never mentioned. A friend of my wife suggested writing about the Quakers, so I combined the two ideas and began to research the Quakers and their involvement in the Underground Railroad."