In high school I wrote an article for the school newspaper about a teacher for the purpose of being “funny.” In truth it was just mean.

My english teacher, Mr. Pease, a charming sage, called me to his classroom at lunch and just held up the article. He saw right through it. Then he looked at me and said, “Words have power, kid.”

If I were a candle the janitor would’ve had to scrape my waxy remains off the floor.

When I published my book in December, I dedicated it to that wonderful man who taught me both the power of storytelling and the responsibility of the storyteller.