SmokeLong Quarterly

What inspired this piece?

This was my interpretation of an exercise on the sense of touch. It was inspired by my experiences as a quadriplegic, the early days of my disability and my memories of my life before being disabled.

What are some of your favorite books?

Leota’s Garden, The Last Sin Eater, Lineage of Grace series, Redeeming Love, Carolina Moon, The Color Purple, Farnham’s Freehold, Dragons of Pern series, Darkover series, The Left Behind series, And the Shofar Blew… and too many more to mention.

Why do you write?

It is the best way I can share what is in my soul with others.

An uncanny number of writers I’ve met say they knew they would be writers right around fourth grade. What is it about fourth grade, do you think?

I am not at all certain what it is, if anything, about fourth grade; as for me it wasn’t then that I decided to become a writer. It was, though, when I began to read with a voracious appetite. I think most writers are avid readers and that with most things we love we desire to emulate them. They are those of us whom our love of the written word forces us whether through bravery or stupidity (take your pick) to try to write. And for some fortunate souls, apparently, it begins as early as nine years old! For me? Thirty-two.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?

I can’t think of much to say, I can only hope that whenever people read my writing that 1) they enjoy it 2) it makes them think and 3) it removes barriers between the disabled and non-disabled.