I was born (many moons ago) just west of Chicago. Don't ask me which year it was--my students do the same thing, and with no success! I grew up in the town of Aurora. I went to Catholic school for my first nine years, and then graduated from public high school in the same town (Go Blackhawks!). Some of my childhood passions included football, tennis, baseball, and drawing.

Upon graduation, I accepted an academic scholarship to University of Southern California, and bolted west to the coast. After much disillusionment with Los Angeles and a small amount of home-state sickness, I transferred to University of Illinois and finished my next three years of B.A. work there. I graduated with a degree in Economics (not English, surprise!), and then put my degree to great use by working full-time in a restaurant for a year. Shortly soon after, through a friend's lead, I answered an ad in the paper for a youth karate instructor, and "the rest is history", as the saying goes. I've enjoyed teaching karate to children ages 5-17 for the past 13 years, and I've watched a lot of my "kids" grow up into fine young women and men.

Currently, I live in the Bridgeport neighborhood on the southside of the city. I have a great mom and one younger sister (Beth). Oh, and she's great, as well. I teach for the youth programs five days a week, and I am starting the opening pages of my next novel.