About Me, In Brief

Right now, I’m mostly keeping my head down working on my next novel. I read a lot of fiction. I love movies, but will only go see one if I think it's going to be great (most are not). Plus I’m immersed in the fun and drama of living with a teenager and a pre-teen in the house.

Early Years

I’ve been a writer most of my life. In fourth grade, I wrote and illustrated the dramatic story “The Runaway Hot Dog” about a misunderstood hot dog that a certain boy wanted to eat. To save himself and live life to its fullest, the hot dog runs off in search of adventure.

In sixth grade, I wrote a Christmas play for my class, about a group of feisty boys who want to kidnap Santa Claus and keep all the presents for themselves. I remember asking my mother for some character names that would sound tough. She told me ‘Slats’, but I heard ‘Slacks’, so one of my tough boy characters was named for a style of pants, although I spelled the name 'Slaks.' Writing this play also introduced me to the concept of other people editing my work. In my last scene, the boys get caught and apologize to Santa for their despicable behavior. However, according to my teacher (nun, Catholic school), justice was not properly served. She changed the last scene so that Santa is taking the first kid over his knee for a spanking. Nothing like a little corporal punishment.

Books & Movies

I became a big reader in high school, devouring all kinds of novels and taking independent study classes in English & Literature. Like most writers, I’m still an avid reader. Here is a list of ten novels that meant a lot to me at various times in my life, although I could have listed hundreds, from To Kill a Mockingbird to The Exorcist:

I also love movies (at least those that aren’t predictable) and a select few television series. I think novelists can learn a lot from the disciplined pacing and storytelling structure of feature films:

Movies

Series

Education, Etc.

I hold a Master of Arts in Creative and Writing and English from the State University of New York at Buffalo. I studied under the poet Irving Feldman, who did not encourage me, although I probably demonstrated little talent and too much confidence. I wrote a lot of short stories, often imitating the style of my favorite writers (which isn't a bad way to learn a few things about writing). Some of the stories were published in literary journals, the kind with circulation in the hundreds.

I also have a Master of Science in Communication from RPI, which helped me get started in the world of marketing and operate my own consulting firm. I write a lot for businesses, too, helping them transform double-speak and technical jargon into language that actually means something to a customer.

What I Like in a Story

I’ve always liked to write about ordinary people (or food items, such as hot dogs) who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances, often due to their own flawed character or decision-making. Such situations can be rich with conflict, moral complications, and ethical gray areas.

One of my inspirations in writing STASH was the question: "What if a well-respected mother and wife who liked to occasionally smoke a little pot got busted?"

For CLEAN BREAK, I was interested in this question: "What measures can you take to get someone you once loved to leave you alone?"

I also like the concept of Worlds Colliding: "What happens when her privileged suburban world intersects with the darker drug world?"

Worlds Colliding is a great concept for drama—or comedy. Perhaps the George Costanza character from Seinfeld articulates it best. Click here to watch.