About Me

I was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, a child of Argentine immigrants, a child of the ‘70s. My earliest memory of writing goes back to middle school: a story featuring my classmates and post-earthquake cannibalism. My teacher asked me to read it out loud, and my classmates’ laughs are with me still. In college I wrote a few poems, and following the encouragement of a beloved teacher, pursued poetry with a passion. In time I was off to UMASS Amherst. A few years later, MFA in hand, I took a job teaching sixth grade in Ojai, California, where I fell in love three times: once with my wife, once with teaching, and then again with children’s literature. 

I authored several middle-grade/early high school textbooks, including Writing for 100 Days, which was named Cathy Duffy’s Top 101 Picks for homeschoolers.  My poetry, published widely, has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

My wife and I live in Meiners Oaks, CA. I teach writing and literature at Ventura College. We have three wonderful kids who are off on their own, leaving us time to hang out with our beloved cat, Lu-Lu.