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I started writing novels when I was ten years old (okay, *trying* to write novels) and continued the habit through the years. I write cross genre novels - young adult/mainstream - where the main character is young adult but the problems they face are adult and serious. I consider my work "dark" young adult, created for readers 15-25, usually female. No baby-sitter club stuff.

I probablly write these types of stories because my own young adult years were not all dating and zit worries. I had some very real issues to contend with and had to grow up faster then a young person should. This shows up in what I write. I write about young adults facing adult type problems and being forced into adulthood without choice. I think a lot of young adult work writes 'down' to their audience or is created for very young adults (children). I write for the older young adult audience. One Young adult book I really like is "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt. It tells a story that can be read by younger readers, but also is serious enough to appeal to older readers like myself. This is what I strive for in my work.

The latest book I'm working on, "A Brother's Love", is about two brother's who are struggling to survive after their father abandones them. It has a very dark climax, but I'm not telling you what it is *grin*

"The Distance Between Us," is my first published work of fiction. Although it's not at all biographical in nature, I was experiencing some of the same emotions as the main character, "AL" at the time of writing it. Like her, I was turning 18 and questioning where my life was going. Also, I was between places, and didn't know where I was going to be living month from month. I wrote the outline to "The Distance Between Us," while living in a motel frequented by druggies and hookers.

In addition to writing, I am an English student at college. I hope to go on to do line editing for other author's writings.