A significant day in my childhood came about as my family prepared to move to my mother's homeland, Australia.

On that never-forgotten day when I was folding diapers (endless piles of diapers as I was one of eleven children), a song came over the radio--Mancini's Moon River. As I listened, I fell into a spell of sorts with the sudden realization that a few words could create another world. I found myself floating down a moonlit river and by the end of the song I knew I'd become a writer.

My time in Australia was much too brief, but the harsh beauty of the outback and later, the wild waters of the sea, influenced my early writings. After returning to America and attending college, I joined my family in their new home in the west of Ireland--there I found another land of intense beauty--the beauty of clouds, fields and waters, and the beauty of an ancient poetic language. My Irish life ended with the publication of short stories set in my village home, Carrigaholt in County Clare.

Back in America once more, I underwent a thorough study of the writing techniques of the legendary Dwight Swain. Following that course of study, I went on to earn a Masters in Fine Arts (English) to better understand the great works of literature, in particular the plays of William Shakespeare. After a few semesters of teaching at small colleges, I began, finally, to write novels. As expected, my earlier years in Australia and Ireland influenced my writing voice -- a formal voice, decidedly old-fashioned and best suited for writing historical fiction. As well, my years in graduate school would have a bearing on my writing, for I had acquired the research skills that are needed to write historical fiction without resorting to revisionism.

And so, now that my two sons and twin daughters have gone off to start lives of their own, I have ample time to write about America's legendary heroes--my challenge as a novelist is to reveal their strengths and weaknesses, their fears and courage and dreams. To sum up my craft, I write to entertain, to teach, and hopefully to inspire my readers to find the courage to reach their own stars.