From its midlife beginning, my unplanned writing career has embraced the extraordinary ordinary. A church music director for years, I started writing when the church secretary demanded newsletter articles at gunpoint. I didn’t plan to be a reporter, either, but found myself writing articles and humor columns for the South Bend Tribune while studying writing and English at nearby Bethel College.

During that time, I also won the Erma Bombeck Global Award for writing humor. I continue to enjoy sharing laughs and inspiration with people I meet through my newspaper column, “Coffee Corner,” and my books. I love speaking to groups of all sizes and backgrounds .

I’ve written articles, biographies, reference material and devotions, but I like writing novels and novellas most of all. I’ve published 23 — enough to keep me off the streets, for which family and friends are grateful.

Speaking of family, I’ve been married to Steve, my high school sweetheart — yes, we have prom pictures! — for 47 years. We live in the heart of rural Indiana and ride our tandem bicycle throughout the picturesque countryside. Our three grown children and seven perfect grandchildren all live in Indiana and Michigan.

Now, tell me about you!