About

I have lived and traveled across North America and Europe (including having lived and written in Europe five years). My work has been published by Texas A&M University Press, University of Texas Press, BlackPast, Exotica Moderne and the Houston Chronicle. I currently split my time between the Washington, DC area and Louisiana.

My inspirations are so many but include the work of–

• Jesus (but not a lily white, blue-eyed version used sometimes to support hurtful behavior, but a radical middle easterner who taught us to love each other and make “good” trouble.)
• John D. MacDonald (a mystery writer who was a master at weaving in social commentary)
• Hemingway (I love his writing style and subjects)
• Albert Camus (a master of describing the human condition)
• Juan Gris (a Spanish master of cubism)
• Sigurd Olsen (master nature writer and huge proponent of wilderness)
• Maxine Johnston (a brave Texas conservationist)
• Enrique Alferez (extraordinary Mexican-American artist)
• Dorothy Parker (a very smart, brave and funny poet, writer, critic and satirist)Frank Lloyd Wright (American Architect)
• Henri Matisse (French painter, revolutionary master of expressive colors and styles)
• Edward Hopper (20th Century master painter who captured alienation in American society)
• John S D Eisenhower (incredible historian and writer)
• The people, culture, languages and landscapes of West Texas, New Orleans, the Chesapeake, France, Italy, Spain and Mexico.
• The 1920s, 1960s and 1970s. Three golden decades.
• Film Noir and classic old detective pulp fiction
• Almost anything art deco.
• Pretty much all music but particularly classic rock, blues, 1960’s cocktail honkytonk and electronica.