About me…

That’s me on the right–Doing what I like to do most in life–Celebrate with family and friends.

Like so many other writers of young adult fiction–Jesse Andrews (Pittsburgh), Stephen Chbosky (Upper St. Claire), John Green (all right he grew up in Orlando, but he moved to Indiana), Rainbow Rowell (Omaha) and Mark Twain (Missouri), I grew up in the Midwest (Milwaukee). My father was a firefighter and my mother worked in a number of clerical positions for the federal government.  Growing up in the turbulent and  fun filled 1960s paved my road to a career in education. I’ve taught children, young adults and even some not-so-young adults in Wisconsin, Minnesota and my adopted home of Southern California. I have three daughters and two grandsons. I live with my wife and a cast of characters who invade my study and dictate stories for me to write on my computer.

Eight years ago, I sat down to write the great American novel. I’d taken numerous writing courses in college and had written newsletters and grants throughout my teaching career. I wrote and wrote and put together a story about five friends who after spending their youth together found themselves headed to the four corners of the continent to attend college. After sending dozens of letters to agents and having only one agree to read my manuscript and ultimately decline to represent me, I decided I needed to learn more about the world of writing. I joined the Southern California Writing Association. Many writers in this group were going through the same struggles I faced. A year later, one of the members of SCWA invited me to join her critique group. This group of five talented individuals taught me how to engage my readers with conflict, tension, plot twists, humor, raising stakes, revealing backstory and other elements of story development. Last summer, after working on two projects with them, I went to a writers’ retreat where I had the privilege of working with their mentor and published author, Raymond Obstfeld. The project I’ve just completed (see Books) began there. For the past year it has been reviewed and scrutinized by the five members of my critique group. Five other readers read beta copies and provided feedback. At this time, I’m seeking representation for this novel, which I am confident will be read and enjoyed by young adults and those who are young at heart.

                                                                                                                      This is my author pose.