Brief Author Bio:

I have been writing for 20 years (yes, really- since third grade- where I wrote not the one book required but FIVE!) but have only been published twice. I do not even count those because they were assignments for the entire Advanced Placement English class in high school. That same teacher paid my way for a writing class at the local community college one night, and bought me a copy of the agents book.

Other teachers have always encouraged me, but I never thought it realistic to expect to make a living that way. It has been something I do for fun, but I am at a point in my life where I no longer like what most people consider 'reality' and escape more often into my own. Fantasy or not, it is a place of freedom, adventure, and strong emotional swings (without being diagnosed with manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder).

The past four years (plus a few months) I have mostly written poetry, as a way of dealing with physical, mental, and emotional issues in my life. I found that striving for the right word, coming up with clever phrases, as well as exploring patterns and rhyme healed me better than any pharmaceutical ever could.

More recently, I have written reviews for albums done by unsigned bands, or obscure artists. I have even reviewed live performances. My reviews have been highly appreciated, and I am exploring the possibility of asking to write an entertainment column for a local publication. I had a passing thought of creating my own underground entertainment magazine but lack the funds and industry knowledge to make it succeed in these volatile times. So I will be settling on submitting these reviews to an online magazine whose creator I 'met' through a Craigslist ad (seeking actors for a rather offbeat humorous independent flick).

This will be my first NaNoWriMo, but hopefully not my last!