When I was younger I dreamed, like almost everyone, about having a career in something epic. For some, it was to be a professional athlete, an astronaut, or an actor or actress in movies or on television. For me, it was to be a famous singer, songwriter, and author. I wanted to write tunes and stories that would touch folks in a significant way. I hoped that my books would become treasured staples in family homes and that my songs would become the soundtrack of peoples’ lives.

As early as my formative years, I would create my own melodies and lyrics. As I got older, I would stay awake after my family went to bed and quietly compose melodies, lyrics, stories, and poems. Eventually I devoted myself to pursuing a career using my creativity. During that time, I worked at a variety of low-level jobs.