Writing influences are my daughters, Kay Parker (an amazing writing teacher in LA), Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, India Arie, Jill Scott, Eryka Badu, Shawn Colvin and Sheryl Crowe, whose darker songs have touched me deeply. Still discovering the works of authors like Tom Clancy and Margaret Atwood; Maria Amparo Escandon is wonderful and Stephen King has written some pieces that are beautiful to me.  Many gifted writers here, whose words inspire.  Their inspiration motivates enough so  to remind me of the joy and passion I feel when writing. This inspiration also serves to remind me that if I try and if I have patience with myself, I can get through my "bad" writing to get to my good.

"Sweet Hazel Sky", (song) placed in the top five, picked from over 300 submissions for a contest whose judge-panel included songwriters David Foster, Carol-Bayer Sager and "Babyface" Edmonds. I also placed in other contests for the same organization that included this panel, (though not as high, in the top twenty), with their board writing a review on me and my work. "Your Love" was picked for the rotation on a show called RoadRules a few years back. I've had the pleasure and privilege of having co-written songs with Oscar winner Donny Markowitz, (Dirty Dancing soundtrack) and multi-Grammy winner John Shanks, (Kelly Clarkson, "Breakaway").
:o)