Dr. ROBERT SWEETEN

EVIL HARVEST

BIOGRAPHY

 

Born in the mining town of Picher, Oklahoma, Sweeten’s family later moved to Grove, Oklahoma where he grew up. After graduating from Grove High School, he attended Oklahoma University, majoring in Zoology, then went on to the Oklahoma University School of Medicine, graduating with distinction in 1979. After completing his residency in internal medicine, he returned to his home town of Grove, where he practiced for twenty-two years.

 

In April, 2003, Dr. Sweeten’s life took a radical turn when, tired of the grueling hours of a busy hospital-based medical practice, he resigned his hospital privileges so as to have more time for himself and family. This change in his life set the stage for his discovery of writing, first as a relaxing hobby, then a more serious pursuit.

 

He had toyed with the idea of writing books for several years, but because of the all-consumed nature of medical practice it never went any further. Then, with so much more free time, he began writing short stories and soon was working on Evil Harvest. He states that now writing just seems to be “in his blood.” He enjoys the work, which he says to him really isn’t work at all. But it’s more than simply liking it, he seems to have an inner need to put words to paper.

 

But being a physician promotes development of the left brain–“doctors become walking computers with social skills”–while the right brain, the creative side, becomes stunted. Reawakening one’s creativity after years of squelching it has been challenging, particularly at first, but also fun and immensely rewarding. Says Dr. Sweeten: “I have now come to the point where I would rather write than do almost anything else.”

 

However, when it comes to writing, medical practice hasn’t been all negative. Having gotten to know literally thousands of patients during his career, this has provided invaluable insights into the inner workings of people–their greatest fears, greatest loves, the things most important to them; in short, what makes them tick–that has created fertile ground for the development of an array of characters. Indeed, Dr. Sweeten feels that such experience in dealing with the human condition is probably a necessity for the serious writer.

 

Dr. Sweeten is also an accomplished artist and designed the cover for Evil Harvest. He currently lives in Seneca, Missouri with his wife Rene’. Both animal lovers, they have three dogs: Lucky, Lucy, and Maggie. Evil Harvest is his first book.