Stephen Evans Jordan

©Chris Guillen Photography Stephen Jordan’s fiction is often inspired from living and working overseas combined with a passion for history. He grew up in California’s Napa Valley in the 1950s in a family of readers—dinner-table conversations often centered on books. Of his parents’ gifts, love of literature is his most cherished. While at Stanford University, Stephen discovered art history and considered a career in the arts. But practicality prevailed, and he opted for business school and joined Bank of America’s International Department. Speaking good Spanish at the time, he was bewildered—but not entirely surprised—when he was assigned to the Asia Division and later transferred to Indonesia. His banking career involved assignments in Jakarta, Singapore, London, East Africa and Chicago. He describes Chicago as the most dangerous, Singapore the cleanest. Despite his initial misgivings, Stephen found living in Asia fascinating, frustrating, and life threatening at times. Inspired by Paul Theroux’s Asian collection, The Counsel’s File, Stephen has written a collection of short stories centered in Southeast Asia. “A Complete Overhaul” and “Raju,” were published during 2014 in EastLit, the online journal promoting English literature on South and South East Asia. “Snake Charmed” was published in Gem Street: Collector’s Edition, a print-only anthology by Labello Press in Ireland; Stephen received Labello’s Excellence in Contemporary Narrative Award. He also won an award from Negative Capability for “Prince Charles and the Texans,” set in Singapore. He has been a regular contributor to Keystrokes, selected works of the Oak Park Writers Group. His commentaries have appeared in the Chicago Daily Observer and the Western Neighborhoods Project (San Francisco). Stephen enjoys French bistro cooking, long walks, and reading. He and his wife, Susan, reside in Elmhurst—just west of Chicago—with their cats Lucy and Muffin.