From an early age I knew I was "special". I had a knack for creating imaginary lives, scenarios and of course, friends. Growing up much younger than my siblings, who quite frankly, didn't actually enjoy my company; I was forced to be on my own frequently. I had some friends when I was younger. Usually, though I was kind of a loner-- a weirdo some would say. Instead of Barbies, I had names and personalities for all of my crayons. Instead of playing school with my friends, I had collected school workbooks and taught my imaginary friends. If you ask any of them, (my imaginary students), I was a tough, but fair teacher. I only sent them to the make-believe Principal's office if they were really unruly. As I got older, I read the magical Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series. She was fantastic. I also of course, read every Nancy Drew book I could and became quite the sleuth myself. Narnia series? Read it. Hobbit, Lord of the Rings? Duh. Encyclopedia Brown? Yup. Also every Judy Blum book I could get my hands on. These characters formed my eclectic imagination, it wasn't long after I started reading Stephen King and Dean Koontz. (I went through an obligatory romance phase as well. Some of those books still make me blush!) What I really liked though, was mysteries. Oh, and cops. I would wander up in the hills or down by the river on the bike paths as a kid in Roseburg. The scenery was nice, but I was really there to find bodies that had been hidden after some vicious murder. Or better yet....catch a killer myself (I considered myself to be a tough 13 year-old). That crime solving, body finding (what was that I just tripped over?) sleuthing child with the over-active imagination eventually grew up to an adult. Minus the imaginary friends (who am I kidding? They're still around. They have in fact just aged as well, and are now characters in my books. Whenever I am exploring in the forest, kayaking down the river, camping in the wilderness, walking by the river..... I can't seem to keep my imagination at bay. I am grateful for having an outlet for my vividly mysterious thoughts. I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do!!!
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