BA in sociology from Loyola University Chicago and an MA and a PhD in
communications from Northwestern University. He wrote his doctoral dissertation
on Studs Terkel, a Chicago radio personality and writer known for his oral
histories (Hard Times, The Good War). Powers was a professor
of speech and performing arts at Northeastern Illinois University for six years.
He also created and hosted a number of specials for Chicago public television
during this time. Powers's stories first appeared in the form of articles
written for Chicago magazine. The novels followed in quick succession:
The Last Catholic in America, Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really
Reflect Up?, and The Unoriginal Sinner and the Ice-Cream God. He
has written one other novel, The Junk-Drawer Corner-Store Front-Porch
Blues, as well as Odditude: Finding the Passion for Who You Are and
What You Do. He and his wife, JaNelle, have two daughters, Jacey and Joy.
He lives in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and is a motivational speaker.