This high school English teacher's gothic novel has roots in the Southern Tier

By day, he is a Steuben County public school teacher. By early morning, he is a writer whose short stories and novel are garnering critical praise.

Bradford Central School English teacher Richard Leise's "Being Dead," was published last fall by Brigids Gate Press and is available at libraries, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

The novel is set in a reimagined version of Endwell, New York — Leise grew up in Apalachin — and tugs on other threads familiar to a Southern Tier reader to weave the story of a young boy grappling with the death of his twin sister and the sudden appearance of her ghost.

Two of Leise's short stories — “Next To Nothing” and “Inter Alia” — were nominated for prestigious Pushcart Prizes, which honor the best poetry, short fiction and essays published in small presses. John McManus, an award-winning writer and author of "Fox Tooth Heart," said "Being Dead" defies genres, and called Leise's work "daring and inventive literary fiction, with mainstream appeal."

What to know about 'Being Dead' and its Southern Tier author

A veteran educator and a former teacher in the Moravia school district, Leise returned to teaching following a three-year Perry Morgan Fellowship in Old Dominion University's MFA program during which he wrote the bulk of "Being Dead."

He has been with Bradford Central for two and a half years, teaching eighth and tenth grade English plus electives including creative writing and digital media.

Leise's fictitious version of Endwell includes an amalgam of familiar Southern Tier locations like Ithaca Commons and Taughannock Falls. A cathedral in "Being Dead" is a "mix" of Leise's childhood churches in Vestal and Binghamton.

There are other personal connections, too.

Wellsville High School history teacher Justin Vossler has known Leise since they were colleagues in Moravia, and Leise has taken to giving characters in his fiction the name Vossler, including a police detective in "Being Dead."

"I thought it was a cool surprise, and I was frankly a little honored," Vossler said. "It made me sit up and pay a little closer attention after that, looking for other clues and references to Rich's life."

Leise and his wife, Adelle, are also parents to twins, Julian and Zinnia, a unique perspective he used in developing the novel's twin characters.

While the novel explores haunting themes like the nature of faith and the crushing burden of grief, it is not a traditional tale of horror and spirits.

"I don't see it as a ghost story; rather, I used the trope as scaffolding for something greater. Of course, I wanted a ghost story, as well," said Leise.

Here Leise discusses the real-life genesis of "Being Dead," his Steuben County students and advice for writers of all ages. Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and length.

Is the publication of your first novel a milestone that your shorter fiction led up to?

Absolutely. I have been writing seriously toward a novel since I was an undergraduate (at Canisius College in Buffalo). That’s quite a process.

In between, similar to a lot of novelists, I would take breaks from the novel and write short stories. As that practice continued to grow, I found a lot of success releasing short stories.

As the father of twins, how did your experience enable you to develop your characters?

The one thing that I have picked up and hope comes across is that I see pure love between the two. It’s remarkable.

Even as they get older, they don’t fight. To not make a pun, they seem like two spirits who seem perfectly fit, one for another.

'Being Dead' is a work of fiction, what spurred the plot of the story?

A lot of the genesis of where the Mary story originated is based on an actual event that occurred in my childhood hometown, where unfortunately a foster child was punished in a manner similar to Mary. I did quite a bit of research to find out about the original story.

The Mary side of things was really dark; the brother side of things I hope was a little bit lighter and a view into how I see my twins.

Talk about your students and how their creative writing is progressing.

It is a group of students who really want to write and really want to create. I introduced them to what is called the Iowa Method. It provides a workable framework for students. We created a culture where students can evaluate their own writing based on the Iowa Method and give meaningful feedback. There has never been an instance of bruised feelings and their writing has just blossomed as a result of their own work.

I sort of sit back and let them do the work and act as a monitor only when necessary. Who is to say my opinion has any more value than theirs? Especially when they are writing from a completely different time in their lives.

What are readers saying to you about 'Being Dead'?

The most heartening surprises come from those − and there are quite a few who go to Amazon, for instance − who realize the book requires multiple reads. A couple have commented on the work at the sentence level; that means the most to me.

It's my sincere belief that once the book or story is out there, the work is no longer mine. The best surprises have come when giving readings. I feel a real connection with the audience − readers engaged in reading. I have learned a lot from audiences large and small.

Any advice for writers?

Get yourself up. Get yourself dressed like you are going to work. Sit in front of that computer and be excited to write. And I always try to end at a place where I want to keep on writing so I have a place where I can immediately pick up.

I stick to this: getting up a number of hours before work and I write just brand new material. I will spend a couple hours on that and then I will devote my day entirely to my teaching career and students and come home to family.

What's next for 'Being Dead' author

Leise has completed a follow-up novel exploring the dangers of social media which is currently being considered by publishers. He will read from "Being Dead" and take questions at 6 p.m. March 7 at the Apalachin Public Library on Main Street.

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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: 'Being Dead' has Southern Tier ties: Q&A with author Richard Leise