I was born in San Pedro, California, in the spring of 1954 to Earl "Sam" and Joyce "Joy" Samsel. I am the middle child between my bossy sister, Leslie, who grew up to be an amazing friend, and my bratty brother, Jesse, who grew up to be the amazing musician, Jesse Samsel.

Modern studies show that you identify your true passion at about the age of 10. This was certainly the case for me since composing my very first poem in the fifth grade is an experience that has remained vivid in my memory. "Trees are very pretty. I like the way they blow. And as I watch them day by day, I find they grow very slow."

I continued writing this and that all through my school years and ended up studying journalism at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon. My first career was as a newspaper reporter, editor, and photographer for community newspapers in Portland -- among them the Sellwood Bee, the Northwest Neighbor, and the Skanner News.

My second career was as a public servant, first with Multnomah County Aging and Disability Services in Portland and later with the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services in Carson City. At various times, I was an information and assistance specialist, an ombudsman, manager of a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program, and chief of a multi-million dollar grant program.

During the last nine years of my mother's life, I juggled work with caregiving. It naturally became more complex and exhausting over time, but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I documented our close, sometimes comedic relationship in a blog called Notes from My Mother, which I later turned into a book (limited edition).

After I retired in 2017, I circled back to writing. The home page of this website has a gallery of my book covers for your browsing pleasure.

I met the love of my life, Peter Olson, during our senior year in high school and am thankful we're together today. We're fortunate to have an awesome family.

Son Jesse

Daughters Jennifer and Alicia

Kids-in-law Charlene, Chris, and Peter

Grandchildren Skyler, Espen, Ranea, Audrie, Jameson, and Odin

Be Kind to yourself and others.

Be Glad for the blessings in your life.

Show Love like tomorrow isn't promised ... because it isn't.

Dream it and do it. Don't wait for someday.