Ever since a crayon would fit in my hand, I have been a writer. My love of books and writing sent me into the classroom where I have been teaching high school English for the last 11 years. I am now highly skilled at the difficult job of teaching literacy strategies to high school students who hate to read. I am proud to say that I get my students to read and like it. I have two sides to my writing life. I began writing my first novel for young adults and not-so young adults two years ago. After lovingly editing it, I am trying to secure an agent for it. I am also finishing the third edit on my second novel for young adults and not-so young adults before I start to try and secure an agent for it as well. I believe what William Faulkner said when he pointed out that the human heart in conflict with itself is the only thing worth the sweat and agony of the writing process. My books deal with young adults trying to figure out who they are and what their place is in this world. The other writing side is my humorous short pieces for adults in the David Sedaris mode. They are true stories from growing up in the midwest in the 70's and 80's in my eccentric family. I hope to put them together in book form when I have written enough of them. I am thrilled to be undertaking the journey to get my work published and into the hands of readers. I think my work will make people laugh, think and experience life in someone else's shoes.