Diane Appledianeappleyardyard called me out as a talented writer when I was a student at J.M. Tate High School in the early 70s. I inspired her to get permission to establish a class in Creative Writing. I signed up, but then treated the class like I did my physical education classes in those days. I showed up and did as little work as possible.

The plan was for the class to publish an anthology. Diane asked all of us to submit our best work for the project. I didn’t submit anything because it didn’t seem important to me.

Diane could not stand leaving me out of the anthology, so she included one thing I had written. My piece got me called to the principal’s office. Mr. Godwin was so impressed with what I had written that he wanted to meet me and tell me how talented I was.

Diane was more than a little frustrated that she had established a creative writing class for me, that I did as little work as possible, that I did not bother to submit anything, and then I was honored as the star student of the class. I thought it was funny.

Now that I am 59 years old, I am sorry that I did not realize what a gift it was to have Diane Appleyard and Mr. Godwin believe in me. I am sorry that I could not appreciate that being able to write was good for more than my personal entertainment. I am sorry that I could not imagine making a career of writing.

But now, I have a lot of stories to tell and I am beginning to feel a fire in my belly to tell them.