I was the class clown in high school. The party animal in college. I worked in juvenile detention for 34 years — long enough to know that every person has a story worth telling.

I was a single father, proud to say I didn’t ruin him. Now I’m a very proud grandpa to three kiddos: Vada Grace, Clara Jo, and Baker Edward. I love you more than you will ever know.

My writing spans two very different worlds — a whimsical children’s adventure about a little girl and her beloved Great Dane, and a sharp-witted murder mystery set in a small Illinois town where everyone knows everyone’s business. What they both share is heart, humor, and a whole lot of wordplay.