I've been writing as long as I can remember. I wrote and illustrated my own comic book when I was 6 years old (I wish I still had a copy of it). By the time I was 15, I was actively writing short stories, and regularly being published in the "School News" section of the local newspaper as a high school journalist.
Over the years, I picked up additional professional experience in various jobs, writing press releases or newsletter copy here and there. In early 2000, I became the coordinator for the Teen Peer Fiction Critique Group at The Writers Room of Bucks County. Shortly thereafter, The Writers Room launched a teen literary magazine called "Underage Thinking", and I became the Managing Editor. During this time, I also created several technical manuals, FAQ websites, technical support forums, and co-authored several research reports, one of which (Distractions in Everyday Driving) received the 2003 "Scientific Paper of the Year Award" from the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (see my Technical Writing page for more information). In 2004, I cowrote the screenplay "30 Days At The Snatch'n'Grab", which, once registered with the Writers Guild of America, competed in festivals nationwide (see my Screenplays page for more information).
During the years 2005-2006, I studied American History at Temple University, receiving a B.A. degree in December 2006. During this time, I concentrated on the research and analysis of American popular culture. Classes taken include U.S. History Through Film, The Art of Black Film, Dimensions of Racism, 20th Century America, The Vietnam War, The History of the American Presidency, and UFO's In American History. My senior thesis is the article "Redefining Blaxploitation", available in the Articles section. Some of my other research from this time is also available there.
Since joining the Philadelphia Zoo as Manager of Online Communications in 2007, I am responsible for writing some, and editing all, of the copy contained on the Zoo's official website. I also maintain blogs at Blogger and Punk Planet Magazine.