Brief Author Bio:

Hmmm... What could be interesting, yet not too revealing? Married -- not any more. Times -- twice. Kids -- two, one in Chicago (poet) and the Army (back from Iraq). Live alone in an apartment with my dog (Conner) who not-so-secretly wishes he hadn't been left with me when the possessions were split up. ***Right now in Texas for three months -- my dog is with my recently-returned cat who lived with a friend for a year and a half.

Since giving up on "serious fiction" because I noticed all the authors in the jacket photos looked constipated and miserable, I took up writing the kinds of books I first loved when I could read on my own and which I gave up: fantasy. For reading, I also read mostly fantasy but since I'm a slow reader, I don't get into those multi-volume epic novels / novelists and pick and choose only the better / best books that interest me. Did you read The Name of the Wind? Great storytelling. That's the kind of book I want to write. And yeah, though I'm older than JKR, I have read all of the Harry Potter books. Several times. What of it? ***2009: Currently rereading To Kill A Mockingbird and realizing how much this book that I read 34 years ago for the first time really influenced my way of looking at life.

And to pitch my own books: over the last year I wrote two novels*** 2009: Book three is out and working on #4 *** in a projected five book series for kids. By the time NaNo gets into full swing, they will be published by Omni Book Publishing and be available on line, etc. The first two: Finding Fairyland and Finding Fairyland 2: Laura's Turn tell the stories of a friend's daughters who visit fairyland on the Fall Equinox and Winter Solstice, respectively. (Guess when the next two books will happen?) They are different kinds of stories: there isn't anything violent or frightening; the adventures are fun and very positive; and they were written for adults to read to or with their kids. There are some lessons that everyone takes away (but I try not to moralize or be too heavy-handed) and they are definitely not something affiliated with any church -- some aspects are inspired by older traditions. Check them out. I think you'll like them. And even if you don't, at least buy one to help out a fellow writer. And the author photo for my NaNo info is deliberate and related to the first book. Ask, it's all fun.

Enough of that. If you've read this far, you've probably figured out that I'm a bit talkative and full of myself. Let's get writing.