I thought I was finished writing deaf books - time to move on, you know? But then my deaf son went through exactly the same frustrating experiences that I had dealt with when I was a mainstreamed deaf student. This made me realize that nothing has really changed over years. It was time to hold nothing back and write an eye-opening book about the hidden realities of mainstream education for deaf and hard of hearing children. I want people to see what really happens behind the scenes. This book shows the truth in a way that surprised even me. It's a story that just had to be told.

The thrill of writing something in a way that hasn't been done before, and the "that's exactly how I felt" reaction it gets from people in the deaf and hard of hearing community.

A baseball-related project involving Dummy Hoy. He is long overdue for induction into the baseball Hall of Fame.

Stephen King and George Carlin. King is obviously well known for his horror stories, but it's his autobiographical book, On Writing, which had a profound impact on me. I highly recommend that book to anyone who wants to enhance their writing skills. As for George Carlin, his style both as a comedian and a writer has always inspired me. His influence is all over Madness in the Mainstream - we are overdue for deaf writers telling it like it is in a way that would make Carlin proud.

Organized chaos. There's stuff in there from 1997.

I grew up as a mainstreamed deaf student in Philadelphia. It wasn't until I became a student at Gallaudet University (the world's only university for deaf and hard of hearing students) when I met other people who were exactly like me. It was then when I asked "Why didn't anyone tell me about this before - like, say, back in the first grade?" Having been both mainstreamed and a student in a deaf-friendly environment gave me a frame of reference that needs to be shared with the world. And especially with parents of deaf and hard of hearing children. Too often they're pressured into a "my way or the highway" approach whereas the reality is that deaf kids can succeed in so many different ways.

It's the truth. Education for deaf and hard of hearing children has turned into absolute madness. I've seen deaf kids being intentionally separated in mainstream programs - it's absurd because meeting other people who are exactly like you is precisely what empowers you. Sign language is often strongly discouraged in spite of research that proves it gives a head start in language acquisition for ALL deaf/hard of hearing students, including those who use cochlear implants. In a nutshell, if you want to know what it's like to be deaf, ask a deaf person... yet nowadays few people in deaf education actually value input from the very people who have been there, done that, as deaf role models. By exposing the madness, I'm hoping parents and teachers will be empowered to open their minds and take a look at the things that make a world of difference for deaf and hard of hearing children.

There simply aren't enough deaf writers getting published. They're out there, and their message is powerful. It's just hard to break through in the mainstream. We have to get the word out on our own. Indie publishing is a great way to get our work out there and make an impact.

Passion. If you feel it, you can write it. This is why I've written deaf-related books and will soon move on to baseball-related books. They're topics that are near to my heart. If you have the passion for it, it will come out if you let it.