I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri. After reporting briefly for the Douglas Budget newspaper in Wyoming, I self-published the novel, Notch Ear's Sacrifice, and a collection of short stories, Let's Go to the Tape, for middle graders, and an essay collection for adults called Speaker for the Powerless. Though retired from elementary and middle school teaching, I still lead a weekly writers workshop for adolescents and another writers critique group whose six adult members meet bi-weekly.