I dont remember NOT writing poetry. A few years ago I moved and thinking that a box of stuff was for the junk (very disorganized looking) my darling father set it to the curb. It contained all my poetry. Of course he felt miserable.. the poor thing. I cant recapture those but Im moving on. When my wonderful friend told me about Authors Den recently, it caused such excitement that I have stuff coming out of my head at locomotive speed. I have always wanted to be part of a community of writers/poets.. never did I think it could be such a source of friendships and guidance and real encouragement. I feel quite at home. I majored in English at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I did a paper on John Keats for my Romantic Poetry course and fell in love with him.. that's sooo me! falling in love with a dead poet.. (grin). Ive been a cab driver, a librarian, and for many years now, I have worked with the deaf and speech disabled community. I can think of no better place to be than someplace in the country.. away from traffic and cement. I have been known to wobble in the knees if Moonlight Sonata is playing. I love traditional Irish folk songs as well as all the old rebel and drinking tunes. I have marched for many causes actively 'question authority.' If I didnt have to work I would not. Oh, to be writing poetry at an hour when others are on their first coffee break at work. (giggle). Influences range from Dr. Seuss to Robert Frost (my favorite). I love Ogden Nash, Emily Dickenson, e e cummings, Uncle Walt my darling John Keats. I read Dave Barry for great laughs. My friend Larry Skahill introduced me to the den.. and for that I will be eternally grateful. I have a mad, passionate love for Ireland and Irish people. I am a Norwegian!

Birth Place: madison, WI dane

Accomplishments: a poem was published in the English text for my high school (after I graduated) .. my younger siblings had to read it aloud in class.. revenge for babysitting! My poem "The End" will be published in an anthology of poetry at the end of 2002. I entered it in a contest at the Poetry.Com site.

I am now a published poet! If you buy my book, I will put you in my will. After the small change and my favorite CDs, which will go to my son, you will be able to split the rest: dust bunnies under my bed, any unused toilet paper, the remainders of my beloved bran cereal, and, most importantly, my collection of ball-point pens. It's hard to pass up, yes? (grin)