I used to sit with a blank page and feel like the whole universe could fit there in words. Even lined paper felt that open. I waited to find out what I was going to write. One of the first things I put down was the light coming through a window, the dust drifting in it. Those early pieces were impressions more than stories.

I was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. I practiced law in Florida for many years, ran a business of my own, and eventually became a high school teacher. These days I teach U.S. history and economics. I still write fiction and poetry, and I still love those few moments before the first word lands.

You can read my novel, The Disciple, here. I’ll be sharing some of my poems, too.