I published my first novel nearly 30 years ago, then got swept up in life. For years, my writing lived in emails, texts, and long-winded social media posts. What pulled me back to creative writing was a real-life event that inspired my novella "Pieces of Margaret". At first, I resisted writing it—it felt too personal, too close to someone else’s truth. But the inspiration stayed with me, and I knew I had to write something. What I created was very different from the real story and maybe doesn’t compare, but it fulfilled something in me and reminded me why I write. I’ve lived in Austin, Texas for most of the past 30 years and worked in a wide variety of fields—telecommunications, real estate, accounting, graphic design, and over 15 years in the service industry with both the University of Texas and private institutions. A common thread in all of it has been service and inspiration. I’ve always enjoyed helping others and finding meaning in my own journey. My adult life has been shared with cats, naturally—they’re independent, mysterious, and just aloof enough to keep things interesting. To me, writing is a way to combine those two loves: service and inspiration. And while I sometimes cringe at my early work, I now see it as proof that I’ve grown—not just as a writer, but as a human being. Hopefully in another 30 years, I’ll be able to say the same again.