I was born in New Orleans under a curse: I like to draw, which was forever getting me into trouble in grade school and high school. My grandfather, an educator, thought he could take advantage of that and prepped me to study architecture. So, I studied fine art with a minor in beer instead—or maybe it was the other way around? My grandfather gave up. I came to my senses and realized making a living in fine art was an iffy thing and switched to advertising design at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Advertising sounded professional and maybe even profitable. I kept the minor in beer and doubled down by joining a frat, Kappa Sigma. Eventually, I graduated and married my high school sweetheart. Almost 50 years and two kids later, she is still putting up with me. After four years in the US Air Force, I landed a job in advertising in New Orleans where I had the privilege of working with people much more talented than I am, designing many award-winning packages and product promotions. All my life I have made up stories in my head to entertain myself, and since I’m an incurable romantic at heart, my stories usually have a romantic plot. Lest my head explode, I decided the folks inside needed to come out.
