I first started writing when I learned how to spell. Maybe before I learned how to spell.

I think I'm like other authors in getting a sense of grandiosity from creating people, their world, and their history. Hopefully, it's a healthy sort of grandiosity. But as a writer, one definitely feels like a god.

I wanted to write a story about a group of male friends who had strong bonds. Personally, I find men who are able to forge strong bonds with other men are compelling. The bonds are not the same as those among women, and that's what makes it interesting. So much about men is under the surface.

Next is Beau's story. He hasn't been able to forgive his parents for not believing in him when he was accused of attacking his high school teacher. He has a lot of pride, but even more pain. Pain is good. That is, for the writer.

The first story I wrote was an assignment for first grade, and I remember my mother - who was quite busy with five children - typing at my dictation on a mechanical typewriter. (Yes, that's how old I am!) I drew pictures, which were then glued, together with the cut-out, typed sentences, onto pieces of cardboard. The cardboard was bound by string. I was very proud of that story, about a lion and a jackal learning how to get along. I must have seen a nature documentary about how the lion and jackal actually steal food from one another. Even then, I wanted to portray characters at odds learning they belonged in a relationship!

I'm a plotter. No pantsing!

Kindle Fire

Very messy. 'nuff said.

I grew up in a middle-class suburb. In those days, I could take my bicycle and ride all over town with my friends. I did this when I was as young as nine years old. Our house was the last house on the street, and I spent a lot of time hiking up into the Santa Monica mountains, avoiding rattlesnakes and occasionally coming across deer or coyote. This helped give me an appreciation of nature. I have no idea if that's influenced my writing, but it's certainly influenced my choice of pets.