Brief Author Bio:

I grew up in southwestern Indiana, but I have lived in Pennsylvania for 18 years. I am an analytical chemist and work second shift by choice.

I always liked making up stories and even wrote some of my own versions of TV shows when I was in middle school. I was fascinated with the origins of words and language in general, but I majored in chemistry in college because it seemed to me that writing was something best done for pleasure rather than hope of profit. Four years ago I took a course at the local community college on how to get children's literature published. I had written a children's novel that the teacher ridiculed as unmarketable, but I made some good friends there and we started a writer's group after the class had ended. The group still meets today, and has expanded to include women who are writing adult fiction as well. The years haven't really changed my mind about writing for profit, but it would be nice to think you'd written something that a large audience could share.

My high school English teacher, Mr. Nixon, emphasized to us that literature should have a two-fold purpose, which is "to teach and delight." If only someday I could make Mr. Nixon proud!