I was born in Northeast Louisiana, where I was raised on the bayou with my four brothers and neighborhood friends. We spent most of our time playing, fishing, and exploring the wonderland of Cypress trees and Spanish moss. Something about the scenery ignited our imaginations. We built cardboard forts along the shadowy bank. We cruised the waters in a "pirate ship" (a leaky Jon boat). And we told stories, lots of stories, until our parents came looking for us...or the alligators came out! And that is where my love of storytelling all began.