Jeff Lee Manthos: Welcome to my Website



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photo credit: Ball Studio, Corvallis OR

Here you will find information about my work, my interests, and my passions in life. There are individual pages relating to my violin making career, my current involvement with writing, living with cancer, and a bit of family history.

Since my father was a career Air Force fighter pilot, my family moved continually for much of my youth. We were stationed in Ankara, Turkey, for two years, finally settling in Laramie, Wyoming, after Dad's retirement. We moved yet again in 1965 to Fort Collins, Colorado, where I attended secondary schools and briefly, Colorado State University. I enlisted in the Navy in 1972, and that period is the subject of my first book, Steel Beach. There is more information about that book at the authorship page.

After my enlistment, I attended the University of Northern Colorado, where I obtained a BA in Philosophy. Having learned how to play the viola and violin while a student there, I then attended the Violin Making School of America. That led to a career as a violin maker, spanning the past three decades.

I have always loved the written word, and decided to pursue writing full-time in 2007. One of the primary factors in that decision was the diagnosis and continuing presence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in my body. I have successfully beaten three manifestations of that blood cancer, but facing a life-threatening disease allowed me to reevaluate what I wanted to do with my life. And now, I want to write.

There is also a resource page for survivors of lymphoma and other blood cancers. I have been fighting non-Hodgkin's lymphoma since 2002, and have encountered a number of helpful organizations and individuals along the way. Cancer is also the subject of my second book, Planet Chemo: Confessions of a Self-contained Man. A description and excerpt of this manuscript is under the books in progress page in the authorship section.

I am approaching writing with the same energy and passion that I felt when I first became involved with violin making. The authorship page also has information on current and future projects as well as some general writing background.

Other pursuits include cycling, gardening, reading, and endless yet satisfying home projects. My greatest passion is my relationship with Karen Gordon; she is my true life-partner. Here is a link to her home page: www.karenjgordon.com

 
Tuesday 06th January, 2009

Current News

September 2008
Jeff has a forthcoming interview about his naval experiences in the Sea King helicopter appearing in the European aviation periodical Aeromagazin of Budapest, Hungary.
May 2008
Steel Beach has been selected by a Florida High School history class as literature of the Vietnam War era.

Oregon Book Awards book tour reading:
May 8th -  7:00 p.m.
Harney County Public Library,
80 West D Street, Burns

Oregon Book Awards book tour reading:
May 9th -   7:00 p.m.
Crossroads Art Center,
2020 Auburn Street, Baker City
Features the 2007 Oregon Book Awards authors. More info at WGEO

May 20th - LECTURE- cancelled.
Will be rescheduled, check for update.
Jeff will discuss his writing process, the nature of creative nonfiction, the power of words and the story within each of us.
Oasis Senior Center,
Valley River Center, Eugene.
April 2008
Latest manuscript- Planet Chemo completed and submitted to agents and publishers.
February 8th, 2008
LECTURE- Jeff Manthos shares his experience during the Vietnam War era and his writing process, 1:30pm, Willamalane Center, 215 West C St., Spfd. 736-4444. FREE.
December 2, 2007
Finalist in the Oregon Book Awards for creative nonfiction. Literary Arts
April 2007
Published release of Steel Beach   (Inkwater Press).

Contact information

Street: 3110 N.W. Taylor Avenue
City/State: Corvallis, OR 97330
Phone: 541-754-7645
E-mail: jeffmanthos@sprintmail.com