Fantasy has been part of my life since I can remember, starting with a fantasy playmate who kept me company while I was locked on the front porch with my toys. My brother, Jerry, still hasn't forgiven me for naming my friend Jerome. Yeah, my mother was a copycat.

My formal introduction to fantasy came with the discovery of the Oz books. I read every one I could find, even if they were larger than the other books brought to our school from the library. I became a serious book buyer when I discovered my dad's army/navy store sold used paperbacks, including authors like A. L. Merritt, Andre Norton, and C. L. Moore--plus my favorite of favorites Leigh Brackett.

Now, I write fantasy about snarly elves, the Half-Elven of the Far Isles, or humans fighting invading demons in Andor.