Spotlight: Faculty Author Tom Walton
By: Shirley Jones
Defining Moments: Secrets That Should Never Be Told
“Events that can change the course of life are often secrets that are best kept secret,” according to a newly published book by Tom Walton of Fort Smith, assistant professor of Speech Communication at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.
"From a first kiss to a family ritual, the triggers of mindsets that shape our lives can often be both troublesome and triumphant for our personal relationships," Walton said.
“Those moments that shape our lives frequently go unnoticed at the time,” Walton believes. “Then later we appreciate that they were the events that define who we are. I hope this book will help people better understand how they became the people that they are.”
The idea for the story came after hearing stories from his classmates while attending his 40-year class reunion. The main character in Defining Moments: Secrets That Should Never Be Told, Evan Carlson, reflects on the experiences of many of his classmates, including himself, through a series of anecdotal stories. “I’m hoping everyone who reads it will recognize a bit of themselves in Evan and the people with whom he interacted,” Walton said.
He previously coauthored, What do I put on My Notecard? Stories of Students We Have Known with Lori Norin of Fort Smith, also a member of the UAFS faculty.
Professor Walton is also the author of A Student Handbook for Introduction to Speech and Communication. He earned a Speaker of the Year Award in 1994 and the Lucille Speakman Excellence in Teaching Award in 2005, as well as a Dedicated Service Award in 2009. He has completed three terms as Chair of the Elections Committee at UAFS.
Walton earned a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Evansville, Indiana and a master's degree in speech and drama from Midwestern State University of Witchita, Texas. He is also a retired sports official.
Walton's new book Defining Moments is available at Booklocker as well as BarnesandNoble and Amazon. It is also available on eBook.
According to Professor Walton, "Everybody has a story" and "Everybody is a story.”
