Des Moines, IA is the birthplace of; Cloris Leachman, Harriet Nelson, Sada Thompson and me. I was born in Des Moines in the fall of 1946, and lived there until the fall of 1993 when I moved to San Bruno, CA to live with my domestic partner, Pat. After being in the Bay Area for several months, we decided we wanted to move to a less urban environment. So, in the winter of 1994 we moved to Sacramento, CA where we share a home with our animal companions; Gracie, Beckum, and Sammy.

Throughout my life I have worn many hats: cab driver, file clerk, janitor, security guard, doctors assistant, veterinary technician, college tutor, activities director, community organizer, volunteer counselor on a hotline, consultant social worker, therapist on a mobile crisis unit, and writer.

When I graduated high school, like many kids, I didn’t have any idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. I had many jobs before I discovered what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. My career goal became clear when I started training as a volunteer counselor on a hotline. I loved the idea of working with people in crisis, and decided I wanted to be a therapist so I could do it full time. In order to attain this goal, I earned my BA in Psychology, and several hours toward an MA in counseling,

After moving to CA, I found a job as a freelance writer with a community newspaper. Since then my articles have been published in magazines and newspapers around the country. I’ve tried my hand at several genres, and found adult/children's non-fiction, and flash fiction to be my favorites. I’ve written a book titled Outing Relationship Abuse: A  Primer for LBGT Youth, and edit a family newspaper titled Edmund's Community Courier.

In addition to my writing  I enjoy;  photography, movies, genealogy, and scrabble. I volunteer as a counselor at a suicide prevention hotline.

My spirtuality plays a central role in my life. When I was younger I felt drawn to the religious life, but I didn't want to join a  community so I begin formation as a Third Order Franciscan. I was professed, and followed a rule of life until a couple years ago when I became an Associate in the Order.

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