I've always loved to read. I've been writing poetry since I was a child. I found an old book copywritten in 1912 by a commercial artist in an old hotel basement when I was eight years old. It was poetry and illustrations by Coles Phillips. It's traveled with me many miles since then; I still keep it close by me. My cousin, Randy Cole, a commercial artist, deceased, is also an inspiration to me. I inherited several of his books and pieces of artwork, which I cherish, after he passed away of a malignant brain tumor. Several of the books from his collection are about Norman Rockwell and those books inspired me to do portraits of people and do my best to make them look like photographs as Norman Rockwell so brilliantly did. I joined a writers group, Writers Among Us after the year 2000. They are a constant inspiration to me. I met an author of mysteries and an instructor for writing workshops named Tygre' Wynters. I've taken two of her workshops and since the first one I've been published! She's a great teacher and friend to me. I encourage other writers to get involved with writing groups and workshops to stay in tune with what's going on in the writing world. Things always change, no doubt about it. Things staying the same would mean the world stop rotating, right? I've always told my family that the only four- letter word they can't call me is lazy. They agree. Good, bad or indifferent? Who cares!