Life on a Cliff

Payne is a fourth generation Vermonter from the legendary Northeast Kingdom. He holds his MA in English from Tufts University, and his MD from the University of Vermont, where he has been a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery since 1988. Payne has been writing most of his life and has published many journal and magazine articles, as well as four previous books. He has been mentored by Howard Frank Mosher and other prominent writers. He practices general surgery in northwestern Vermont and lives on an organic farm with his family. He raises money from sales of his books for worthy organizations, including Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, the Lake Champlain Land Trust, area food shelves, and others. Payne makes appearances at bookstores, book fairs, libraries, reading groups, and other events in support of his books.