Look and Listen

Biography

When I was a youngster, I fell in love with fantasy books after reading the Chronicles of Narnia series. Ever since then, I have enjoyed being swept away in great stories with memorable characters, especially young adult action-adventure, science fiction and fantasy. I've written stories since the high school days, and only recently moved into the realm of being an independent author and publisher (Pipe Dream Books). My day job consists of teaching full time at Paisley Charter School, in the quiet town of Paisley, in Lake County, Oregon. For over seven years, I worked as a wildlife biologist in Florida cypress swamps like those in the young adult novel, "Josh Anvil and the Cypress Door". A 1989 graduate of Oregon State University, I live with my wife, a son, and two daughters in Paisley.

Inspiration

I am inspired by original ideas, fresh adventures and consistent points of view. By original ideas, I mean that they aren't copies of the latest writing fads (eg, teen vampire series). Fresh adventures sort of goes along with original ideas, but again, stories where the author sat down and really thought out something different to write about. And third, I love consistent points of view--stick with a major character (first person or third) for the entire story. My mind gets all jarred when I have to switch between characters. There are exceptions of course, like Lord of the Rings series, but then those were also written like books within books.