How long have you been writing?
I actually started writing very short stories in the fifth grade. My dad was so proud of that, and remembered the names of the lead characters for the rest of his 86 years.
I was also the school radio announcer, and went on to a first career in broadcast news. Back then you wrote your own news copy—no excuses, no writer's block. You were on-air in ten minutes and had to come up with polished copy in that time. The experience was invaluable, and to this day the actual writing part comes quickly to me.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in a little town in western New York state, and I went to prep school in New England. I knew rural life, and I also knew prep life in Connecticut. I think this background has given me a wide view of people and places, which is very helpful in writing, and in navigating life.
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