Whittington, Brad 1956-

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WHITTINGTON, Brad 1956-

PERSONAL:

Born March 12, 1956, in Fort Worth, TX; married; wife's name, Milly; children: Daniel, Sarah. Education: Attended East Texas Baptist College; Baylor University, B.S. (secondary education), 1979; graduated from Texas State Technical College, 1985. Religion: Christian. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, playing guitar.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Kai, HI. Agent—Broadman & Holman Publishers, 127 Ninth Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37234. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Telecommunications worker. Has worked variously as a janitor, math teacher, computer programmer, Web page developer, and editor.

WRITINGS:

Welcome to Fred, Broadman & Holman (Nashville, TN), 2003.

Contributor of articles to magazines and newspapers.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

Two sequels to Welcome to Fred.

SIDELIGHTS:

In 2003 Brad Whittington published his debut novel Welcome to Fred, "a simple coming-of-age tale about a young man seeking to find out who he is and where he belongs," wrote Library Journal contributor Wilda Williams. Set in the late 1960s, the novel concerns Mark Cloud, a worldly adolescent who experiences growing pains after his family moves to the small, isolated town of Fred, Texas. The son of a Baptist preacher, Mark wrestles with issues of faith and identity, and his beliefs are tested during a family trip to California. In an interview with Daniel Whitfield published on the Welcome to Fred Web site, Whittington stated that his work addresses universal concerns: "I think most people experience some sense of alienation while they are growing up and strive to fit in. Everybody yearns for romantic love. Everybody struggles with the questions of God and religion."

"What elevates this book above others of its kind—if in fact there are others of its kind in the Christian market—is Whittington's ability not only to create believable, well-rounded characters but also to give them believable, well-rounded dialogue to work with," wrote Marcia Ford on the Faithful Reader Web site. A Publishers Weekly critic offered a mixed view of the novel, stating that "the reader sometimes feels more like an observer than a participant. However, there are lovely details, generous portions of humor and plenty of nostalgia." Reviewing Welcome to Fred in the Honolulu Advertiser, Wanda Adams observed that Whittington "evokes adolescence with humor and more than a nod to the rueful embarrassment that comes of remembrances of one's early and unformed self."