A Bit About Me...

Funny – I find that writing “about me” is much harder than writing middle grade contemporary fiction. My attempts at a short blurb in this space has resulted in several electronic versions of rolled up balls of paper overflowing in my trash can next to my feet. I often ask myself, who the heck am I to be writing a book through the point of view of a kid in middle school? I am quite certain that my wife quietly asks the same question when I’m not looking. I don’t blame her.

Well, I was there once and some of those moments really stuck – the good, the bad, the traumatic and the awesome. On top of that, I’m a dad and am involved in a variety of teaching and coaching endeavors in and around my local community. So I get to tie my own personal experiences together with my observations of today. 

I also love to read – always have, since my sophomore year in high school when a teacher took an interest in me. It was then that I saw the meanings and messages behind the words, and I got hooked on books. My reading ah-ha moment occurred during a zig zaggy period of awkwardness (think Diary of a Wimpy Kid) where a combination of pretty big challenges at school and at home occasionally twisted my young brain into a pretzel. So many of the confused emotions my protagonists struggle with in my writing come from an experienced place of understanding inside my head and heart. But after all that, I consider myself a positive person and my positivity is the energy source of my writing. 

For all you literary professionals who have stopped by to visit – I am a member of The Manuscript Academy and SCBWI where I am constantly learning and improving upon the writing craft. I love books. I love to read books. I love to talk about books I read. If you ever have a few minutes to spare, I’d love to do so with you. 

And in an effort to replicate some of those lists out there on MSWL, here you go:

• The only place I can sit still for hours is at the beach
• I love all kinds of music, everything – Chopin, Chesney, Clash – all of it
• Actually, the other only place I can sit still for hours is at my favorite restaurant(s) next to a bottle(s) of wine(s)
• I’m a dog person and cats are always welcome too. I know, impossible.
• Coffee must happen
• Give me anything to do with my family outside and I’ll be happy – hiking, skiing, soccering, etc.

Love These Kid Lit Books:

• A Wrinkle in Time
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• Every Curious George Book ever written
• My Jasper June
• The Book Thief
• When the Truth Unravels

Love These Not Kid Lit Books:

• All the Light We Cannot See
• Babel
• The Expats
• Eleven Days
• Go Set A Watchman
• Rules of Civility
• Any and all books by Tana French
• Who is Maud Dixon?