R.P. ROGERS (Rodney Paul Rogers aka "Rod"), was born in Mullins South Carolina August 9, 1940. He grew up in the environment of the late depression, WW11, and the rural segregated South. These factors had an enormous influence on Rod and his experiences growing up. With several offers, including the Ivy League and service academies, Rod accepted a full football scholarship to Clemson University. His football and academic career, for many reasons, was very inconsistent, but in the end he graduated and declined a professional football contract. Rod completed the ROTC program, and upon graduation (BS-Mathematics), received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U S Army. Also, upon graduation, he married the former Mary LeVan Collins. They have been married for fifty-five years.

Upon completion of an eventful two years in Armored Cavalry (the 7th Cavalry—descendent of Custer’s last stand), he went to work in the packaging industry.  Initially hired to create and implement a quality control program, Rod moved quickly through other positions to become plant/production manager. Hard work, being the basic requirement for advancement and family security, remained at the core of Rod’s traditional upbringing. By this time, LeVan and Rod had two children, Angela and Rodney Jr.  The path to top corporate management appeared to require an MBA degree. With that objective, Rogers returned to graduate school at the U of South Carolina. This too became an eventful experience from a racial and American culture standpoint. Rod finished in the top ten of his class, and was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma academic fraternity (Phi Beta Kappa equivalent for business students). 

Things seem to be on track as Rod accepted a position as a marketing analyst for a major corporation. At this point his passion for reading, abandoned for sports in junior high, came back with abandon. While advancing in the business world, Rod began to develop his skills and his vision as a novelist. After reaching a high position and a very comfortable life style, Rod, with LeVan’s full support, turned down a chance to be considered as CEO, and cut loose to pursue writing on a full time basis.

Reality, being what it is, Rod and LeVan have operated an art gallery, bed and breakfast, and real estate business to support the writing habit. Rod’s background, to include both academic and real world experience, is the driving force of his work. He believes in using the novel to explore the deepest recesses of human behavior within the broader culture. Rod readily admits to being didactic, and interfaces his story telling with real world events and conditions impacting human culture. RACE IN AN AMERICAN LIFE is the first half of his life’s journey, as it relates to the ongoing racial divide in America.  It is both personal and a walk through the turbulent middle 20th century. It is a true account written like a novel—it is a life.   

Rogers is also the author of the Civil War epic BLUE-GRAY MIST AND A BLACK DAWN, as well as the novel WHERE TO NOW.  He lives and writes in Charleston, SC.