I write because I have to. Putting words to paper (actually these days I put most of my words directly onto a screen, but that doesn't sound near as romantic), keeps me sane.

My stories usually begin with character. I will have an idea of a character in peril or a character in desperate need of something. Sometimes these imaginary characters live in my head for years before I realize they are part of the same story as one or two other characters. It is at that point a story and plot begins to emerge.

I write to get a better understanding of myself and society. I write to create empathy in this world because if I can make a reader truly feel they know the characters of my stories it opens eyes and minds to emotions, ideas, hopes, dreams, and fears of others. And once our minds are open to the plight or even the goals of others we can better understand each other.

But don’t get me wrong I also love to make people laugh, cry, feel. I will forever love standing in front of people and reading my words for them because writing is most often a long solo affair of me pantomiming action and talking out loud to myself. Unless you count the cat, but let me tell you he’s a damn harsh critic.