Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Central Illinois, and regularly traveled by car to visit my grandmother and other relatives on a farm outside of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Those 12-hour trips barreling along at 65 miles per hour on twisting blacktop roads was always an adventure. I wasn't born in the back seat of a car, but I grew up understanding a lot about the technique and importance of safe driving. We never had an accident, and I developed a real taste for the epic road trip.
Peoria was and is a Caterpillar town. It's headquartered there, and the whole region's fortunes rise and fall accordingly. If sales are down or the union is on strike, everyone suffers... and we all bled Caterpillar yellow.
When did you first start writing?
I started writing essays, short stories, and songs when I about nine years old. That means I've been doing it for more than 50 years. I thought I'd be richer by now.
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