When I was young, my career goals were far from modest. In the seventh grade, I listed four possible professions for my future self: Olympic gymnast, movie star, famous novelist, and Jane Goodall. Not wanting to be limited to one choice, I even mapped out a strategy whereby I could accomplish all four, beginning as a gymnast when I was still young and limber, transitioning into movie stardom as a young adult, and finally ending up as a writer in my old age. I'm not sure when exactly I planned to squeeze in my stint in Africa channeling Jane Goodall.

I spent my childhood in upstate New York, doing cartwheels and back flips everywhere I went in hopes that an Olympic coach would discover me and I'd be on my way to training camp. Instead, at thirteen I moved with my family to Florida, where I would have wallowed away in a pit of despair had I not been accepted into a performing arts high school. After graduation, I moved to New York City, where I worked a series of odd jobs while awaiting my big break. It never came. The only mark I left on Manhattan is at the corner of 57th Street and 6th Avenue, where I was thrown headfirst into the pavement after being hit by a runaway horse-drawn carriage.

Eventually I moved to Los Angeles and turned my attention to career goal #3, writing. I've written everything from books and magazine articles to DVD liner notes, movie reviews, and encyclopedia entries. I've also been a book editor, magazine editor, proofreader, copyeditor, copywriter, indexer, and audiobook abridger. More recently, I have been writing scripts for a children's television series.

While my career goals evolved as I matured, I still harbor the same passions that were present in my early life: a profound love of animals, a flair for the dramatic, and an overwhelming desire to write. I just can’t do those darn back flips any longer. And while I never made it to Africa, I did earn a degree in primatology, so if Jane Goodall ever calls looking for an assistant, I'll be ready.

I am married to a philosophy professor (guess how often I get to win a debate?!). I have a toddler son (zoologist in training) and two teenaged stepsons. And no, I don't have a pet monkey!