I was a fine arts student, though graduated from Lake Forest College with a degree in literature and went on to pursue a career as an editorial cartoonist. However, drawing ‘grownups’ stopped being fun. Before being inspired by the opportunity to co-write and illustrate a children’s book with my wife, Brenda Faatz, I journeyed through life as an entertainment industry professional. From art director to record label executive producer to publisher of an international film magazine I found a good deal of success (awards and working with people who had entourages). But then came working with children and it became fun again. I still run Beyond Cinema Magazine and Notable Kids Publishing, which is distributed through Independent Publishers Group (fortunately...as they do all the heavy lifting)...but my real passion is writing and illustrating. In addition to wearing the publishing hat for other authors and illustrating, I serve on the Board of IBPA and I am President of the CIPA Education & Literacy Foundation.