Ever since I first read Night Shift by Stephen King in the early 1980s, I was hooked. In school, I received praise from teachers for my creativity and imagination; in fact, my 11th grade term paper was on vampires and I even joined the high school newspaper. During college, other things occupied my time and I lost touch with my writing. Then I found Dean Koontz. Where Stephen King terrified me, Dean Koontz showed the true meaning of not wanting to put a book down. My desire to write was fueled.
After graduating from Virginia Tech, I became a math teacher and completed my first novel, The Hands of Time. Not having any editing experience, this time travel story traveled nowhere. Several English teachers and I formed a writing group. I was fortunate enough to have Marjorie Meyerle at the helm. She showed me editing techniques and helped to revise my work. Wanting to continue to write instead of edit, I began The Last Shaman. Marjorie relocated and I left teaching for the computer field, but never turned my back on my passion for writing.
I have lived in Woodbridge, VA for most of my life, graduating from high school there as well as teaching at the rival high school. In despair after not having a book published, I wrote a letter to Dean Koontz. Surprisingly, he sent a note back. He offered encouragement and told me to seek an agent. After more rejection letters, I concentrated on editing and polishing techniques using some of those rejections. Little blurbs here and suggestions there taught me quite a bit. My stories have been rewritten, edited, and polished. Now, Lost Souls is ready with the Last Shaman and Near Death nipping at its heels.
