Author Bio
Florida native Ian Ritchie Stewart lived in Key West, Florida, for many years. He has enjoyed a most varied and interesting seventy-two years of life. His intimate understanding of the themes of love, life struggles and loss, around which his writing centers, emanates from both personal and extensive professional experience. His formative years of living by the ocean in Neptune Beach, Florida, were filled with sun-drenched days of surfing the waves and hunting for shark teeth. In 1972, America was engaged in war, and Mr. Stewart eagerly heeded the call to serve his country. Serving in the U.S. Navy as an in-flight communications operator was an honor, and he was assigned to the elite reconnaissance squadron VQ-1. Mr. Stewart performed as a Top-Secret Naval Intelligence operative until his honorable discharge. Upon discharge, Mr. Stewart returned to his hometown on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. He graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Art, and married Ms. Barbara Larrison. In 1979, son Adam was born, and in 1986, Mr. Stewart's wife passed away, in his arms, after her lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis. As an adult, and following in his father's footsteps, son Adam joined the U.S. Navy.
After selling their home in Atlantic Beach, Florida, he loaded his motor home with his two golden retrievers and joined his many friends in the Florida Keys. He missed not a step with his move to paradise. He continued his family connections to the islands, where almost one hundred years earlier, his grandparents had purchased several beautiful lots.
Over the years, Mr. Stewart has worked as a historical interpreter for the National Park Service as well as the Florida State Park system. For several years, he ran the Key West Turtle Cannery Museum, where he interacted daily with all aspects of the Key West population, locals and tourists alike. Professional social work experience spanning fourteen years led him to the second chair management position at one of the largest family service providers in the world, where he oversaw three homeless shelters and served as public services manager to the community of Key West. In 2007, a fall left him in need of surgery, and during his period of convalescence, he wrote his first novel, "Lost Souls of Paradise". Mr. Stewart extends his invitation to join him on Facebook and YouTube for a comprehensive tour of the book.
