Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in a place that grew up to forget its past, but despite that, I had what amounted to a rural upbringing in a fast-growing urban area. This place was smack-dab in the heart of the Old West. My dad told us stories of ranching and family and values that dug deep into my soul and left a lasting impression. Those are the things I try to pass along to my readers.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yes! Back in third or fourth grade, our class studied about the Acadian people's ouster from Canada and their trek to Louisiana. I wrote a one-page play about them. I don't think the play was ever distributed for acting out in the classroom, but nonetheless, it's the first literary piece I remember writing.
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