I have said that across the years, I have worn many hats. Author and writing is the culmination of many rich experiences. One of them was a four year period post-college.

I was not a stellar student, sorry mom and dad! Not for lack of brains, but more for lack of a connection to a goal. I was in college because I was supposed to go. It was genetically imprinted at birth, honest:) I don’t regret my college years, although I wish now that I had spent more time on campus and made some of the life-long friendships that most people make when they go to school.

I made friends off-campus. Mostly at my horse-trainer’s barn (another story), until I hurt my back (yet another story), and I was laid up and became a gamer. Wow – a whole new world of fun and creativity opened up to me.

For the record, my gaming preference is for AD&D FIRST EDITION! — before they made it so complicated that every player needed ten books to run a character:)

This led me to the SCA, the pre-cosplay generation of gamers. From there, and a series of cosmically unique coincidences (another story, again:) I crossed paths with my future-ex(no tears shed here, honest:). We (or he, depending on who you ask) started his business as a sword-smith and armor-smith. He was a brilliant artist, but not such a successful, responsible adult.

I won’t go into the details of the relationship or the business. It moved me forward and gave me some rich growth-inciting experiences. And things to use in my writing– the weapon and armor, not the ex:)

Here are some pics that you might like.

• This was a basic viking-style helm that we dressed up into a dragon helmet. The fancy part is all just leather, folded and riveted, and dyed with turqoise, tassels and beads.

• Dragon-claw armor. This was originally made with a lot of leftover scrap pieces of leather. You’d never know if from how awesome it came out. my hands were stained black for a long time:)

• This one is a bit more historic-elegant. He hammered the pieces, folded the brass and riveted it together. Then he hand-drew the ethings with a dremel tool. brilliant artwork. I think it was blackened with a torch before etching:)