The earliest memory I have of writing was when I was around 9 years old. We were learning poetry in English class and when I went home that day I decided to send my first poem to the newspaper, The Hartford (CT) Times Children's Poetry Corner. Alas, just as quickly I received my first rejection. But, what a rejection -- a hand-written letter by the Poetry Editor encouraging me to continue writing and to continue submitting. Even though more than 60 years have passed, I still think about the influence he had on my decision to keep writing.