Ellen

I am a voracious reader. I have read Hemingway and Michael Connelly, James Patterson and Nora Roberts. In short, any genre as long as it is well done. I have edited for a magazine and tutored in English and English Literature.

If you want my opinion, I'll be happy to give it if I have the time, but don't ask unless you want an honest opinion.

As an editor, nothing got a story rejected faster than bad grammar, structure and punctuation - unless it was a superior attitude. No editor wants to take on a egotistical know-it-all as a client. There's nothing worse than a bad writer who thinks they are the next Tom Clancy or Issac Asimov.

I honestly don't think much of my own writing. I wrote 'Into the Fire' on a dare from a friend, but never intended to actually do anything with it. I wouldn't have put it up at all, except it seemed only fair to allow others to critique me. I know it's cliche in spots, but if you get a little enjoyment out of it, then I'm satisfied.