If you judge a writing career by income earned, mine would be the size of a mouse (in comparison, Stephen King's would be a blue whale). But if you judge a writing career by the amount of joy brought to the writer...well, mine would be an obese Argentinosaurus (i.e., the largest dinosaur yet discovered).

Writing has helped me learn more about history and culture, cope with sadness and disappointments (mostly by recreating the story with a happy ending), and define what I want most out of life. It's also provided me with hours of almost free amusement ("almost" because of the cost of pen and paper, which I usually write the first draft on before switching to electronic means)

From a love of words discovered early in childhood, I found time to write whenever I could. But I waited until I graduated from college before attempting my first screenplay, "The Game of Life". The first draft was 147 pages long. (Trust me, it's been edited at least twice since!). Then, I wrote "Captives" and "My Pal Marty", which has evolved into a possible made-for-TV movie called "Minnesota Love Song". (I just took all the "f" and "s" words out.)

(P.S. E-mail me if you want more info on any of those screenplays!)

Because a friend of mine worked at the Melrose Square publishing company and had written a book in the same series, I got the job of writing a biography of Medgar Evers. I am truly proud of that work, if for nothing more than spreading the word about a civil-rights figure often neglected in the rushed history taught in schools.

After that, I concentrated on writing plays, taking classes at South Coast Repertory under playwright John Glore. I wrote a long-form play about Alcatraz convict Sam Shockley, who had a pathetically low I.Q. but became entangled in two escape attempts. He was convicted of murder for the second one (but did not pull the trigger) and was executed. I am drawn toward odd stories like this.

For now, I'm going to put on my editor's hat...I have a manuscript from my mother's cousin regarding facilitated communication and some amazing messages from severely autistic men...I have a soft spot for stories about underdogs. Maybe it's because I am one.