I am a multidisciplinary artist -- a writer, visual artist, and professor/teacher. My novel White Light was one of NPRs Best Books of 2015, my visual art and plays have shown all over the world from Edinburgh to Los Angeles; New York City to Arkansas. I've written for the LA Times, The Miami Herald, The Washington Post, and many other publications. I've also taught at universities, libraries, community centers, and workshops around the United States. All of these elements walk the same line for me. When I teach,  it comes from the same place that I write from, make art from. It comes from the same well source or engine–the thing that drives you to connect. Teaching, in other words, is an act of creation. For me, everything is like that…

I have been teaching art to older adults for several years. It started with my grandfather, who I have been traveling and making art with since he was 60 (he is 93 now). I find that I always learn as much from older adults as they do from what I want to teach them-- that it is a very dynamic experience that involves socializing and discussing, bringing life experiences to the fore. It's always more than meets the surface. The experience that older adults bring to learning a new art form is always enlightening and I find that it is highly energized in a positive way. I LOVE teaching these courses! They are always my favorite.