BORN ON THE WEST SIDE OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, I AWOKE DAILY TO THE SMELL OF THE STOCK YARDS IN THE VALLEY BELOW. WANTING A BETTER FUTURE FOR ME, MY PARENTS MOVED TO, A SAFER, NORTH OF THE MISSOURI RIVER WHEN I WAS TEN. THE TOUGHNESS OF THE WEST SIDE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FACTOR IN MY LIFE, AND HAS SERVED ME WELL.
I HAVE COMPLETED MY FIRST NOVEL AND ...