My family has lived very close to the land for many generations, as farmers, ranchers and veterinarians (that's the P.C. way of saying I know dirt!). I have to credit two teachers for their overall influence on my writing: Linda Mueller, for helping me to find my creative voice, and Carrie Smith, for putting the fear of God into me.

My all-time favorite fantasy & sci-fi books are: The Dark Tower series by Stephen King; the early Pern books by Anne McCaffrey; the Giant's Star trilogy by James Hogan; and the Thieves' World series, edited by Robert Asprin. The classics I love the most are: Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte; Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte; Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell; The Return of the Native, by Thomas Hardy. I'm also very impressed with the Warlord Chronicles, by Bernard Cornwell. I enjoy archery, homemade crafts, and gardening (which go into the crafts!).