I was born in Hackensack, NJ back in #$@## - my mother was Gertrude Matilda and my father was Gustave. Names have been a thing with me all my life! I've given my children plain vanilla names, and you'll notice that, in my writing, I stick to the old standards! Where I deviate, is with the titles of what I write, and there, I always try for something unusual. I grew up in Texas and went to college in Colorado. I love both places - perhaps Texas a bit more, because, living in Texas, makes you a Texan forever - and that involves what you think - about the world, yourself and others. It gives you ATTITUDE that stays with you all your life! At last count, I have lived in 42 houses in 11 different states. Isn't it wonderful to have so many familiar settings for stories? Moving has never been a problem, but feeling rooted to any one place is. For example - where does one throw one's ashes, if there is no one place that makes your heart beat more quickly? Hopefully, I've made my last move. I'm near children and grandchildren at last, and revolving in the family dynamic once again. As the mother of six, I thrived on chaos, and feel comfortable wallowing in it once again! When I look out my window now, I see towering cedars and pines and leaden skies interspersed with blue patches. When skies are blue - they are the bluest I've seen, so there is a reward in being patient for the fair days. There is new terminology in the TV weather reports - sunbreaks. They happen regularly, just when you're ready to give up on the day. I still say "wow" when the sun unexpectedly breaks through, making all the colors around me more vivid. I have a true French country garden! My house is surrounded by a lush hedge, and behind that hedge, hidden from the eyes of the world, is the most charming garden, abloom with more species than I will ever be able to identify. This garden promises to be very theraputic. It's such a pleasure to walk through it early in the morning before anyone is awake. I can already feel the inspirations arising from it! So many plants remind me of my grandmother's house in Massachusetts. There's something comforting about that. My town is charming and all necessities are met within a few miles drive, leaving lots of time for what must be done. Two daughters and two granddaughters are just five minutes away. Folks are warm and helpful and the local Barnes and Noble is friendly to local authors! I couldn't ask for more!