Often inspired by history and current events, I write to probe unconformable truths to build empathy and understanding. Many of my original plays are instigated by a real event that upsets or confounds me. For instance, when the housing bubble burst and the subprime mortgage crisis deepened, I pondered the American Dream, which seemed synonymous with homeownership. How did this catastrophe affect me, my neighborhood, my community, and our collective American Dream? To explore my ideas, I constructed FOOLISH FIRE, a play about a realtor, banker, and foreclosed owner; their tale unfolds in reverse chronological order to highlight not what happens but why. Likewise, DIRE WOLVES originated out of news reports about unemployment. In the stories I collected, a recurring thread became evident – people who lost their jobs often felt like they lost a piece of their identity. And as I further contemplated this and the desire to share loss, I came to the conclusion that loss does not negate identity; it helps define it. DIRE WOLVES is an episodic ensemble piece where six lives intersect as jobs are lost, relationships are abandoned, dreams are squandered, and people learn to confront their true natures as a means to survive. As a playwright, thought is my foundation. The plot, characters, spectacle, melody, and diction fall into place once I determine my purpose for writing.