Pen Name:
None
Genres:
Contemporary Fiction
Romantic Comedy
Short Stories
Novels
Website:
Interviews:
2021 SWW Interview for A Seven Month Contract at Four Thousand Per (2020)
2018 SWW Interview for …and Something Blue: 21 Tales of Love Lost and Found (2017)
Video:
YouTube: SWW Meeting, September 20, 2017
Bio
Born on the south side of Chicago, he was raised into the working-class milieu by a journeyman butcher father and a Western Electric mother, where he tried to figure out his position under varying forces like Eisenhower and God and Sputnik. In grammar school he recalled ducking under the desk to prepare for an atomic bomb attack, and occasional outdoor field trips, once to see the actual Oscar Mayer wiener midget promoting hot dogs, and once to see a smiling Richard J. Daley breaking ground for a new bank with a golden shovel.
He fell into a good pile of manure when he took four or five correspondence courses (pre-online days) in creative writing from the University of Iowa. The developer of those courses, Ralph M. Berry, who moved on to a solid career in publishing and teaching—including five years as chair at Florida state—opened Dennis’s eyes and heart to so many nuances (or subtleties) of the art. Putting on an editorial hat and writing a letter to one of his favorite authors (F. Scott Fitzgerald, in his case) proved both challenging and enriching.
He eventually received an M.A. from the University of North Dakota, after majoring in sociology and cultural anthropology. He taught part-time for a spell, making zilch, then worked for a major book distributor. He often entertained and even wrestled with his muse. His submissions received a few hand-written rejections from the likes of McCall’s, but most of his stories found their way into magazines like Pangolin Papers, Mobius, Potpourri, and the SouthWest Sage.
After moving to Albuquerque, he coordinated a community center-sponsored writing class/workshop with published author Don Morgan. And he tried to orient under arcane forces. He woke up daily, knocked on wood, drank coffee, and pondered and wondered. In case you wonder too, his surname is pronounced: cas-ten-dike.
More from Dennis
Writing even the briefest biography or autobiography begs the question, “What do you think you’re here for?” It’s a tough one. Winston Groom stabbed at an answer by creating an inept but adamant character named Forrest Gump. I can identify.
I’ll respond even more coyly than Winston. I write because my narratives make more sense to me than the narratives posited in newspapers and magazines and daily conversations.
Believe me or not, this book [A Seven Month Contract at Four Thousand] is my feeble attempt to straighten out the map of the world so that mercadian dimensioning isn’t as dominating. I hope it’s less flat-earth, more funny.
In Memoriam
Dennis Kastendiek
1948-2025
Dennis was a master at creating memorable characters whose life circumstances placed them squarely in the underdog category. He used a lifetime of observation plus imagination and a unique voice to create remarkable stories. When not reading or writing, Dennis played guitar, helped writers refine their craft, and served on the board of directors of SouthWest Writers. Friends remember his kind heart and way with words. He is loved and missed.
Books
Title: A Seven Month Contract at Four Thousand Per
Published: September 19, 2020
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Johnny, a small-town Kansas high school graduate, feels guilty when his prank results in his sister’s breaking a leg just before her community playhouse debut. Fortunately (or not), Johnny learned all her lines while watching her rehearsals. And when a talent scout passing through town sees a girl he thinks is the most gifted actress to be found on the plains in ages, shit really hits the fan for Johnnie. Broadway, here he/she comes!
A Seven Month Contract at Four Thousand Per has the pace and unique combination of fun and craziness of Some Like it Hot wonking with the television cast of Fame. A young man expiating his guilt over accidentally harming his sister takes on her persona and responsibilities. In the process, he learns a whole lot more about what it is like to be a woman than he ever thought possible. Travel the U.S. with Johnny/Johnnie as she sets out on her gender bending odyssey!
Available for Sale
Title: …and Something Blue: 21 Tales of Love Lost & Found
Published: November 18, 2017
Genre: Short Story Anthology
An anthology of short stories featuring romantic relationships in rich language with an in-depth understanding of human nature. The author blends a life-time of experience, an MA in sociology and cultural anthropology with first-class writing chops from famed University of Iowa to weave heart wrenching tales that somehow reverberate unforgettably. Includes stories about everything from romance to murder to humor to con men in 21 original, sometimes quirky, always charming and stylistically graceful.