Okay...I guess it's time for me to throw a bit of background down...I'll try to keep it to writing-related information...mostly...
Well, first off - you all can call me Kevin or deckacards. I'm not worried about it. I'll respond to both...and numerous other less than desirable names. I'm 31, married (second) with children, and desperately longing for a life filled with writing.
My B.A. is in English but I'm currently pursuing a dual master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and Community Counseling (I actually get to start seeing clients this Summer as an intern!). During my undergrad, I studied various forms of writing (Creative, Technical, Professional, Essay, Journalism, etc.) and spent a bit of time as a writing tutor. For the past 5 years, I've made a living as a Technical Writer for a bank software company (basically, I write instruction manuals).
I love short stories (especially John Updike and Flannery O'Connor), my favorite novel of all time is Catcher in the Rye, but by far my favorite genre to read is fantasy. I would quickly volunteer Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time (of course) as my favorite fantasy experience, but Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince series was a wonderful read as well. And, if pressed and backed violently into a corner, I would have to say I enjoyed Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth in between Wheel of Time novels. Finally, my middle school librarian hooked me on literature forever when she suggested Robin McKinley's Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword. Mom and Dad can blame her for steering me away from a more lucrative profession for the rest of my life (in addition to dooming them to depend on Social Security for their retirement plans...).
I love movies (Gladiator, American Beauty, Transformers, Sense and Sensibility, etc.), and for 162 games a season, I border on idol worship with the St. Louis Cardinals (hence the corny username - deckacards).
Thank you all for giving me the chance to improve my writing. I'll do the best I can to provide as much useful feedback as I can for all of you as well.
Thanks! (wow...that was long...sorry...)