I never started writing with the intention of even being published. I only started writing a few months after my 50th birthday, almost as a challenge to me, because I want to be true to myself. I shared my poetry with just a few close friends. One of them, Cindy Franks-White, is a published poet and she thought my poetry was good enough and asked to share with her publisher at the time. The publisher reached out to me and asked me if I had more,,,which I shared and I was offered to be published. Prior to that, I never ever even thought about being published. I went through the whole process with the publisher but in the end the relationship didn't work out...so I decided to self publish.

I think the greatest joy in writing for me is just letting what's inside me come out! I've never really had an outlet like this before in my life and it really helps me deal with a lot.

I'm really just starting out on this journey, and whenever someone that has read my writing reaches out or tell me that my writing has either touched them or inspired them...it just fuels my fire! I don;t have a lot of followers or fans...but those that I do have are cherished.

As of right now, my second book "Musings Of A Modern Romantic" is scheduled for release on October 9th, 2014 and I already have over 30 poems written for the next one. I write when things come to me...so sometimes I write a lot and sometimes not at all... It all depends on when I am inspired.

Traditionally...I go back to Edgar Allen Poe for poetry . The way he wrote...there was such a flow and cadence to his writing that I love.
Currently, my favorite poet hands down is Josephine Ranes. Her poetry touched me in ways that I can only hope my poetry can touch oothers.

Well...I'm not quite at the point where I can survive by writing alone so I work...a lot! Other than that, I enjoy a variety of things...especially spending time with my son whenever I can. I love being outside...from the beach to the mountains and back again. And for indoor activities...I'm a bit of a foodie and wine geek.

I remember the first poem I wrote as I embarked on this journey. "She" was a cathartic, life changing moment for me and I am quite certain that it will forever remain my favorite thing I've ever written. Prior to that moment, I hadn't written anything since I was just out of high school...and I wrote that at age 50.

For me...I can only write when it comes to me. Sometimes I 'll have an idea kicking around in my head and it needs to work itself out...but when the words are coming...I have to let them out. Other times I'll be having a conversation either in person oor even in chat on-line and something will resonate with me... a line or a phrase or a sentence, and I will be suddenly inspired and the words just flow out.
I envy writers that can write every day, but it's just not how I am. There have been days where I've written 5 or 6 poems...and then there have been times where I haven't written anything in 5 or 6 weeks.

Honestly...I just want a look and an image that reflects both who I am as a person and represents my writing.

I grew up in Dover, New Jersey, right in the middle of blue-collar working class suburbia. Looking back...I love where I grew up and the lessons I learned there...both in and out of school. The town was a classic "salad bowl" of ethnic groups, and oddly...even though I wasn't a minority I recall always being offended when people from surrounding towns referred to my hometown with ethnic slurs. That was my town and those people were my extended family and friends!
I grew up in a large family. I have four brothers and three sisters and my maternal grandmother lived with us. Every single night without fail, all eleven of us sat down for dinner together.
This sense of family and communty have stayed with me throughout my life

When I was very young I used to like to write poems from time to time, but every time I went to show people I felt like I was dismissed,,,so I stopped.
After getting divorced I told myself that I was going to be true to who I am as a person going forward because I really felt like I'd lost much of my identity while in that marriage. I was talking with a friend about poetry and writing and mentioned that I used to write but stopped because it wasn't well received and she challenged me to try again...and I did!
So at the age of 50, I wrote my first poem in over 30 years...and I now write whenever I feel inspired