SkipDidThis

Author, Writer, Teller of Tall Tales

I’ve been called the Biggest Liar in Texas. I’ve won more than my fair share of tall tale and liars contests. I’m currently writing a book containing all my award-winning stories, every tale I ever told, and some that have yet to be heard. I’ve also written several novels I intend to self publish. And then there’s all the other stuff I’ve written. Check ’em out.

I grew up in a sprawling neighborhood in Amarillo, Texas. We lived across the street from a school playground, which served as a watering hole for hundreds of ball-throwing, tree-climbing, ice cream truck-chasing baby boomers. My entire universe revolved around that crowded oasis. On Saturday mornings my dad hit flies and grounders to my brothers and me. During the summer, my mom would send one of my brothers to the wading pool in the middle of the park to instruct me to get out, come home, and change into my swim trunks.

I had the perfect family. We got around the table at dinner time and shared our thoughts. We spent our vacations traveling and camping. My parents came to all our sporting events, even though ‘Bench Sitter’ was my usual position. My dad was with us from Cub Scouts through Boy Scouts. 

In the first grade, my mom received a note requesting that I bring two more Big Chief writing tablets to school. One I kept at my desk, and the second my teacher kept at hers. She gave me that tablet for schoolwork every day, and took it back immediately afterwards, before I drew up all the pages. I drew on everything. In sixth grade art class I drew a pencil portrait of my best friend which was compelling enough that his mom framed it. In high school I won several art awards. I was the newspaper cartoonist from high school through junior and senior college. Graduating Texas Tech University in 1977 with a BFA degree, I majored in advertising design and minored in illustration. I lived in Denver for three years, then moved to Dallas. I’ve worked at some of the biggest ad agencies and corporate headquarters in DFW and Canada for more than thirty years. I’ve directed photoshoots from helicopters and a B-25 Mitchell bomber. I’ve presented ad campaigns to clients in Houston and Chicago and attended press runs in Dallas and Las Angeles.

I joined Toastmasters International in the mid-nineties and began competing in public speaking contests. Storytelling became another canvas for my creativity, and from there I got involved in Tall Tale and Liars’ Contests. I met my wife in Toastmasters. 

Maintaining all those stories in my head was like using a baseball cap to carry all my luggage. I joined the Dallas Christian Writers Guild, where I learned to write more professionally. I’ve been an active member for nearly two decades. 

Through this blog I’m hoping to generate reader interest in all that I have to say.