Note: Scott’s first novel is High as the Horses’ Bridles. It’s a great book–set in Queens!

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Studying literature (especially Biblical Literature) and philosophy at Queens College quite literally changed my life. It taught me critical thinking and to never take anything for granted. Meaning is open. I came  to realize that the meaning of life – for me – is about making my own meaning. I find that in books and the relationships I have with others. The English dept. there taught me that. I had never been so challenged in my thinking and so excited to find out what others thought.  

I wrote my first novel because of Queens College – specifically because of an English course I took with Professor Tougaw (on dreams and literature). In that class I found myself questioning the role of dreaming in the book of Revelation. My thesis sent me on my way to writing a novel about a religious father and son and their relationship to visions and dreams. If not for that class I would not be a writer nor the reader that I am. In fact I would not have gotten it published without Queens College either. John Wier suggested I go to and MFA program, to Hunter (go CUNY), and that I study with Colum McCann. So I did. And Colum guided me toward publication. That novel was reviewed nationally and got named a best novel of the year by The Washington Post and a few other places. I have since finished a new novel and hope to see it published soon. And I have to say this new one is about dreaming too – in its own way – and I have to credit Tougaw’s class once agin for that.