I came to fiction writing from a thirty five year touring life in the classical music world. I also worked as a speechwriter, in comedy and academia. Currently a professor in Oregon, I went to school at Whitman, Johns Hopkins, Harvard and UCLA. As I joined fiction writing to composing, the parallels became obvious through time, and one has helped the other tremendously. I have a long-interest in fantasy fiction, but tend not to write dungeon/dragon or teenage romance (perhaps the latter comes from a wish that children could remain children just a little longer. There is an innate musicality in fiction writing, the lilt of phrase, color, characterization that I enjoy exploring. SHINDAHEEN was released June 18 as the first of the four volume "Fables of the Carpailtin Campfire." "Fire and Iceland" is complete, and will be released by August, "Three Roads to Waitsburg" and "The Queen Stands Alone" are on the way. Although I hope that the stories are fun and exciting, I do, indeed, use them as an excuse to talk about "other" things, such as the beauty and viability of all age groups (as my principal characters can change age at will, depending on the particular advantages each offers), the power of music, diplomacy versus violence. Like so many novels, mine has a sword-totin' teenage girl, but the novel is about her choices, not her status as a warrior. She is mentored by a gifted older woman, but since both can change ages, they may mentor each other.