Years ago a friend of mine rushed over to me at a party and asked me to tell a story I had told her. By the time I finished, everyone was in tears laughing. I loved being able to create that kind of impact with words. Whether presenting a reader with a hero he wishes he could be or a villain he chooses to hate, the characters must relate on a personal level. I believe a reader will leave a good story in an improved condition. He may have learned something new about the world or himself, or simply been well entertained. That's why I write.