I have enjoyed writing since I was a young child. I would make up stories about animals telling me stories about themselves. In my imagination, I was the only person in the whole world who could have a conversation with an animal.
In the tenth grade of high school I wrote a short story as a class assignment. My teacher, Jim Avey, tried to talk me into having my short story published. Which I did, but it was many years later after I retired from local government. My beloved teacher was there with me when "Andersons Survive the Civil War - Then Seal it with a Kiss" was finally published. Teachers like Mr. Avey, do make a difference in their students lives.