Although I’m 56 years old as I write this line, THE HAPPINESS JEWEL is my first children’s novel. I have been telling stories like this one to my kids and my nieces and nephews for almost 30 years though, so there is that. I’ve also worked as a writer, screen writer, animator and film director. For example, I co-wrote the animated television special Popeye’s Voyage: The Quest for Pappy with actor Paul Reiser.

I was also an episode director on the UPN animated TV series Gary and Mike. I wrote for the PBS children’s series SeeMore’s Playhouse and created the comedy superhero graphic novel THE HELM for Dark Horse comics. The Helm was named one of 2010’s top ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens by the American Library Association, just in case you were wondering. I’ve also written a few young adult books like DEMON FREAKS, a horror comedy, and FISH WIELDER, an epically silly epic fantasy. FISH WIELDER was named one of the Five Best Indie Sci-Fi & Fantasy Novels of 2017 by Kirkus Reviews, in case you were wondering about that, too. Lately, people say my hair makes me look sort of like a pirate, although it may just be the hat. These days, I live in Portland, Oregon, with my lovely wife, my two amazing kids, one smart dog and one not so smart dog.