About Me
What a bunch of characters!
I’m a lucky guy. I’ve had the chance to write hundreds of short stories for some of advertising’s most beloved characters. Each story was only 70 or so words long; the ideal word-count for a :30 commercial. These days I’m transforming my love of storytelling to a whole new medium – actually, the oldest medium of all – books! And, as you probably guessed, each story will be a little bit longer than just 70 words.
As my two grown daughters will tell you, I was constantly creating imaginary characters to help them navigate the bumps, turns, and challenges of childhood. With the stories I’m writing today I get to bring all sorts of new characters to life with storylines that I hope charm, delight and enlighten the next generation of children...and who knows...maybe their children, as well.
Some Moderately Interesting Facts About Me:
I still work in advertising…writing those long pharmaceutical commercials where everyone is doing yoga, walking with friends through an idyllic farmers' market, and taking in deep breaths on the top of a mountain.
A few years ago I created the “Be Wise All, Take Xyzal” campaign featuring Nigel, the knowledgeable animated owl whoo (see next fact) shares everything he knows about taking care of runny noses and itchy eyes.
I'll never let a pun or dad joke go unsaid.
For one year I was the voice of the Trix Rabbit and Cocoa Puffs’ Cuckoo Bird. (When the Screen Actors Guild went on strike, the folks at General Mills said, “You do it!”. I guess after presenting hundreds of storyboards to them, I had mastered the characters’ voices. Once the strike was over, the real talent came back and proved me wrong.)
I’ve got four grandchildren, two wicked smaht daughtahs (I’m originally from just north of Boston), a wonderful wife and a Brittany Spaniel named “Maisie”.
Charles Shultz (the creator of the Peanuts Gang) once yelled at me on the phone.
And a few years ago, I ran into Steven Tyler of Aerosmith in a men’s room. We had a quick conversation at the urinals. I was nervous. He was completely comfortable, dressed as a woman.