I was born in Newfoundland, Canada, the oldest of three children. My mom was a nurse and my dad a food service manager. We moved around a lot, finally settling in New England, where I attended high school and swam on the swim team.

My childhood was not particularly musical aside from the fact that my father had a real passion for country music. I also remember my mother playing Judy Collins albums. I took piano lessons for a short while, but hated it and quit. I also tried the flute and hated that too.

I went to college in New England and studied anthropology. After I graduated I moved to the Pacific Northwest, worked a variety of low paying jobs, and had a lot of interesting experiences.

It was around this time that I started writing little rhyming poems. They were short little sing-song things that also happened to be intense and sometimes even violent, like nursery rhymes for twisted adults. These poems were small and radiant bursts of light, like peepholes into an alternate universe. I kept at it and eventually made the "crossing" into music. I did this by teaching myself how to play guitar and using any words that came up to drive the rhythm, pitch, and tone of the song. It wasn't until this happened that I truly understood the power of music, and just how closely related words, speech, and music are.

Along the way I also taught myself how to play piano. I don't play the way you learn by taking lessons, I have my own thing going on and it works well for me.

I now live and work in Brooklyn. I used to live in a very "artistic" neighborhood but alas, all things come to an end. I now live in the "family-friendly" section. There is a beautiful old piano here in my new home, big and grand and full of personality. I also have my own little work room. It has a big window overlooking an interesting street, and a closet to keep all my things in. It is in this room that I write songs. It is also in this room that I am writing this letter to you.

There are a lot of different things I would like to do in the future. Writing for children is a new adventure of mine, one I think I am particularly suited for. I am also interested in composing songs (lyrics and/or music) which further a plot line, such as for theater or film. Collaboration with other writers also appeals to me. I dare say I am even interested writing for advertising, the great religion of our time. Why not? All of these projects are like beautiful crossword puzzles.

I have never known a pleasure greater than that of writing a song.

Thanks for supporting my art.