I was born and raised in New York City (East Harlem and the South Bronx). I now reside in Ojai, California, with my niece, two nephews, and four kitties. After meandering through life until 55 years of age, I've finally come around to putting an ignored writing talent to use. I've never stopped loving children's stories--from Hans Christian Andersen to Where the Wild Things Are. Therefore, children's stories it is. My theme is magical realism, and I draw on the experiences of the gritty neighborhoods wherein I was raised. As those more...