RICHARD CRASTA, Author, Editor
Phnom Penh/New York
Email: richard.crasta@gmail.com ; Tel: 097 2418447
EDUCATION
· Master of Fine Arts in Writing, Columbia University, New York
· Course in Book Copyediting at Harvard University Summer School
M.A. in English Literature and Communication, American University, Washington DC
B.A. in Economics, History, Political Science, University of Mysore, India
M.A. in English Literature and Communication, American University, Washington DC
B.A. in Economics, History, Political Science, University of Mysore, India
(Gold Medal in Economics, Fourth Rank in University in B.A.)
· Breadloaf and Aspen Writers’ Conferences
· One year of development administration training at the National Institute of Administration, India.
EDITING EXPERIENCE
· Invisible Man Books & Invisible Man Press, New York: Edited seven fiction and nonfiction books, wrote publicity brochures and web content.
· Scott Meredith Literary Agency, New York: Read submissions, analyzed them, and reported on them to clients.
· Wrote/edited policy speeches for Chief Minister of Karnataka State, India, while in the Indian Administrative Service (as Undersecretary for Tourism & Information).
· Drafted government policies, wrote reports, made detailed policy proposals and suggestions. Used to working with deadlines and performing under pressure.
WRITING & TEACHING EXPERIENCE
· Freelance writer and essayist, Los Angeles Times, Newsday, Tower Air Magazine, Cosmopolitan, The Week, India Today, Times of India, etc.
· Writer/Columnist, The Indian-American Magazine, 1991-1993, The Independent, Bombay, India, 1990-1991, and Business Standard 1994-95. These columns were wide-ranging in their subject matter, including politics, administration, and current issues.
· Faculty, Department of English, New York Institute of Technology, 1983-84: Taught English Composition to college freshmen.
· Authored and edited/co-authored ten books including a World War II prisoner of war memoir, a novel, a book of essays, and assorted collections.
OTHER EXPERIENCE
DEVELOPMENT POLICY FORMULATION & IMPLEMENTATION EXPERIENCE
· Indian Administrative Service, 1975-1988 (with periods of sabbatical for studies)
o Assistant Commissioner and Subdivisional Magistrate, Chickballapur and Belgaum. Coordinated administration and development works for an entire subdivision the size of an American county, and heard and judged cases including land disputes and law and order cases.
o Project Director, District Rural Development Society, and Special Deputy Commissioner (Development), Shimoga. Coordinated and oversaw development projects for an entire district.
o Undersecretary for Tourism and Information, Karnataka State: Helped in policy formulation and oversight of department.
o Joint Director of Industries, Small Scale Industries, Karnataka State
OTHER SKILLS
· Have traveled in over 40 countries, and speak seven languages to some degree. (This includes a 400-500 word vocabulary in the Khmer language, which can be increased quickly if needed; can also speak basic Thai and Indonesian.)
· Can “think out of the box”—a skill that could be valuable in NGO reports and proposals.
· Speechwriting: Was a debater and public speaker in college, won prizes.
· Can travel at short notice if required.
OTHER INFORMATION
· Citizen of the United States of America
· Have three children in the U.S., two of them in school.
· Professional Membership: Longtime member of PEN American Center (professional organization of writers and editors), New York.
