I was born and reared in Phoenix, Arizona, married for 33 years, mother of one and grandmother to four wonderful children.  My own grandmother brought me books of poetry by Emily Dickenson, E.E. Cummings, Edgar Allen Poe, Robert Browning and even a collection of Shakespear.  I also was given many books of various American poetry and became very intrigued when I read J.R. Tolkein's trilogy when I was in the 4th or 5th grade.  I read anything I could find, even dictionaries and encyclopedias!  My grade school librarian didn't know what to do with me once I read everything in the school library, I was in the 5th grade.  I wrote childrens stories, songs, short stories and poured my heart out with poems from my soul.  I never let others read what I wrote, I was scared.  A few years ago, an online friend talked me into sharing, then into joining another site and letting others read my poems.  Now, although still unsure, I enjoy sharing with others.  I still have that great Earth shatterring novel inside me but am working at writing a series of childrens books and my second cook book!