Bio
More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Me
I was born in New York and grew up on Long Island in a town called Hicksville. Yes, I know, it sounds made up but there really is a place called Hicksville – here’s a link prove it: Hicksville.
Here’s a photo of the house I grew up in:
(They’ve since torn it down and put up a fairly dull Cape Cod number)
I have an older brother: And a younger sister:
Which makes me the dreaded, slightly disturbed, and least attractive middle child:
(I’m the one wearing the glasses)
Here I am with my dad:
And with my mom:
And here’s a picture of my niece’s cool, pink braces:
I wanted to be a writer ever since third grade but for about a week or two when I was fifteen I thought I might be a boxer. I also played with the idea of being a professional jazz guitarist after graduating from Hicksville High School.
I graduated from Adelphi University with a Bachelor’s in Communications.
Adelphi Alumni
I moved to Los Angeles soon after graduating and got a job as a talent agent’s assistant. From there I worked briefly at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation after which I became an elementary school teacher and won an innovation grant.
Innovation Grant
And then, after many years of struggle and toil (6 years to be exact) me and my writing partner at the time (Chris Conroy)
(Yup, that’s Chris)
sold our first script, THE LIE, to Universal Studios. What followed was much rewriting and many more projects sold and much more rewriting.
In 2001, at long last a project was produced. A Disney Channel Film called HOUNDED:
Hounded
It aired on April 13th (a Friday, no less, just to give it the luck it needed).
And then… more projects sold and more projects rewritten until finally a feature film got the green light.
Employee of the Month
Here’s me at the Premiere:
And here’s a poster from a foreign land:
For my thoughts on both these films, please see the Film and Television section.
On the very strong urging of my wife I wrote SWIM THE FLY, which is my first published novel. My second novel (an as yet untitled quasi-sequel) will be published in the fall of 2010.
At the moment I’m happily ensconced in British Columbia with my wife, my step-son, and our dog Scooter.
(this is Scooter)
And last but not least, here’s a picture of me with Winnie-the-Pooh: