Running eight miles every morning wakes me up, eases my stress level, gives me space to ponder Big Thoughts, keeps my body in shape -- and sometimes also helps me conduct research for my novels.

Let me explain. 

I’ve been teaching in some capacity for the last eight years.  My first time teaching was as part of my MFA program at Florida Atlantic University.  I was technically a graduate student instructor, responsible for a two/two course load of English Composition.  All the instructors got a textbook filled with essays meant to inspire argumentative writing.  Freshman had to take the class, so the rosters were always full and we got a teaching stipend–it was a win-win situation.