I usually write, edit and teach from a comfortable old screened in porch in the suburbs of Maryland but this year and part of next, I'll be writing and safaring and volunteering in Tanzania. I write in a variety of styles -- the Africa that I knew and loved in Zam-zim of the early 1990's, futuristic utopian stories, and a sprinkling of nonfiction review pieces. Now the Tanzanian stories demand my attention as well as a new novel about another wide open space. the great northern plains. In my notes, I refer to it as the prairie novel. In 2010 I gained a Pushcart nomination and 6 publications. Before last year, "Chasing the Leopard" which was honored as a Finalist for Barbara Kingsolver's Bellwether Prize. I'm working on a second African -political novel; the working title is "The thief, the housekeeper, and the child await the election."

For me, writing is thinking, writing is sharing experience. The only good thing about is that we all keep getting better as we do it.

I have edited the Potomac Review for 5 years, which is a hell of a lot of work but I like the way it advances the writing conversations. It is a good way to talk to my old writing friends and new writing friends I haven't even met yet. I leave it in the capable hands of my colleagues at Montgomery College.

I teach at Montgomery College, a two year very urban, very international campus, but I get to do all the fun stuff I love around my classes.