I started writing when I was nine years old and my first poetry contest I won was for a poem I wrote that had to be about the play Hair in 1968. I won first place and my mom won a record album. Yes, a record album. The poem titled These Things in this poetry book was printed in my high school year book. I was really excited, but not as excited as finally putting some poems together for my first book. I want to thank Jeanne Lupton at Frank Bette's Art Center in Alameda, CA. You have been such an encouragement to me and my first reading was there in that art center.