I once participated in a seminar intended to foster co-worker relations. In the name of political correctness, we were asked to "celebrate the differences" in our cultures. I was most impressed with one of the presenters who suggested our time would be best spent by looking for the similarities. Toward that end, he asked us to describe ourselves using a simple list of nouns. It was more difficult than I would have thought, but interestingly, it does help me in this situation. In no particular order, I am a man, an American, a father, husband, brother, son, grandson, son-in-law, friend, teacher, co-worker, writer, pilot, veteran, cook, senior citizen and the list goes on. What was nice about the process was that it gave me reason to really consider all the things I can claim to be. And even now, much later, my list continues to grow.

You should try it; you'll be surprised.I've heard it said that "true writers" constantly create stories about the strangers around them. Well, if that's all it takes, I've made the cut. I certainly love people watching and I manufacture backgrounds and stories about them as well. Armed with a BA from Lynchburg College in Virginia and an MS from James Madison University, I've done all kinds of work, sales, private practice as a financial consultant, broadcasting, publishing, teaching, and for many years, financial officer in the health care industry. But my greatest professional pleasure comes from writing. I've been published occasionally in magazines over the past two decades, but my passion is writing novels. In addition to All's Fair, released in 2003, I have completed this sequel, What Goes Around, and there are no less than nine manuscripts in various stages of "construction" to follow those.

The only good advice I ever received from a literary agent was that I should always refer to myself as a writer. Today, I am finally comfortable with saying that I am a writer.