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.