"What's purple and stripped and orange polka dotted?Ugma's face when she gets angry!" Droolabit expertly raised her hand to block the swift kick her sister had aimed at her.

"Oh yeah? Well what's pretty and fancy and stylish too?" Ugma puffed (and to Drollies' credit she did look a little purple and strippey),"Your best pal Fricklesnitch that's who."

"Take it back. Take it back, I swear." Fricklesnitch the eldest and most level headed stepped in to hold the defending Droolabit at bay.

Ugma stuck out her tongue. Secretly she loved her sisters, though she'd never admit it. They could be a walloping pain in the butt, yet they made the day more icky and smelly somehow. Praise just doesn't get any higher than that for a young troll.

(excerpt from The Troll Sisters - Dirt Berry Boogie)

I write comic fantasy and biographical fiction for the youngest cardbook munchers on up to adults. I also write nonfiction about people and nature or art and creativity, all from a lighthearted point of view.

Ideas come from my insatiable curiosity about the world around me. I love exploring possibilities, looking deeper, and wondering what if?

I work as an illustrator so sometimes my stories grow from the images I create. I doodle up new characters. I wonder what their life would be like and the kind of trouble they might get into. Before long I have the basis of a story.

Like this fellow above; I drew the scribble part really fast, hardly paying attention. (It's even better to get a buddy and draw scribbles for each other). Then I added eyes, legs etc. and it's the begining of a new creature.

I enjoy using a random factor to ignite new ideas. I trust in happy accidents (or serendipity) when combining words and images from various sources to create exciting twists and turns in the story.

Strong characters mark all my writing. Dastardly (yet possibly redeemable) villains and plucky young heroes who face challenges with courage, wit and humor. And of course the hero's loyal friends who help along the way, to name a few. They keep me busy.

So there you have it. Each day, as in all my life, I strive to make great tales well told.