Stephen Russell Payne is a fourth-generation Vermonter. A lifelong writer, he has
published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in publications including Vermont Life magazine,
The Tufts Review, The Vermont Literary Review, Livin’ the Vermont Way magazine, and
Route 7—Vermont Literary Journal. Payne studied pre-med and English at Tufts
University, receiving his master’s in English before entering medical school at the
University of Vermont. Since 1988 he has practiced general surgery in northern Vermont
and taught at UVM as a clinical assistant professor of surgery.
Over the years, Stephen has been mentored by poets X. J. Kennedy, Galway Kinnell, and
Denise Levertov, as well as by novelists Howard Frank Mosher, Jennifer Finney Boylan,
and Chris Bohjalian.
Stephen lives on a northern Vermont farm with his family where their land is managed by
a local organic farmer. Stephen loves cutting his own firewood and spends much of his free
time in the woods, where he often comes up with and develops story ideas. He and his
family spend as much time as possible on Lake Champlain where they are avid Hobie Cat
sailors and strong supporters of both the Lake Champlain Land Trust and the Vermont
Land Trust.
Stephen’s debut novel was Cliff Walking, a poignant tale of loss and love that weaves
together the lives of three desperate people who struggle mightily to find a way to save each
other.
Stephen’s latest book, Riding My Guitar – The Rick Norcross Story, has now been released
to coincide with Rick’s 50th Anniversary Concert Tour.