The profession I list on my income tax return is "Attorney/Writer"; I hope you won't hold it against me.

I am a farm/country girl. I am a dog person. I am musically inclined. Don't hold any of that against me either, please.

I've studied physics, philosophy and logic, mathematics, and law in formal settings. A list of things I've studied informally would be quite long, but I do have passions for Colonial Kenya (1880s-1930s), quilting/crafting, hymnody, the Bible, and science fiction/fantasy.

I've been a research assistant, a temp, a secretary, a groundskeeper, a Census taker (twice now), a technical editor for a hymnal, a judicial law clerk, a lawyer, an administrative law judge, a newspaper journalist/production assistant, a data entry clerk, a warehouse associate, and a scorer of standardized tests. Eventually, I'll figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

If you see a typo in one of my stories, please tell me. I live in fear of such things.

I grew up listening to fire calls -- first via telephone as part of the fire line, and later over a series of radios and walkie-talkies. My father was a volunteer firefighter for about 30 years, including a stint or two as fire chief. The fire department was -- quite literally -- inspired by the show Emergency! to add a rescue squad ... and EMTs ... and more training ... and more equipment. (In fact, the department named its rescue squad "Squad 51" after the show.) I cannot count the number of lives saved by the department's dedication over the years.

Firemen are going to get killed.
When they join the department they face that fact.
When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished.
What he does after that is all in the line of work.
They were not thinking of getting killed when they went where death lurked. They went there to put the fire out, and got killed.
Firefighters do not regard themselves as heroes because they do what the business requires.

-- Chief Edward F. Croker, FDNY (1899-1911) --

Since I started writing fan fiction for Emergency!, I've visited several fire stations/shifts within my local fire departments. I have been treated with courtesy and respect. I have gained a wealth of information about firefighting and para-medicine. I've also been able to get a glimpse of what it takes to be a hero and I can't help but be impressed. Hopefully some of this knowledge and insight has trickled down into my writing and given it a bit more depth and realism. If it has, I have these men and women to thank. If it hasn't, well, that's on me.

Thought I'd give a public thank you to the departments I've been peppering with my questions. It's either that or more baked goods of questionable merit.

- Wayne Township Fire Department (Marion County, IN) (HQ and Stations 81, 82, 83, 84, and 85): These are the heroes who respond first when I dial 911 for my mother, or get hit by a car while sitting in a restaurant (true story). A-maz-ing. And extraordinarily patient with the writer chick's dumb questions about firefighting. Oughta get a medal for that.
- Speedway Fire Department (Stations 201 and 202): Especially awesome tour since I got to pick up all kinds of tools and nozzles and stuff. Oh, the little things!
- Avon Fire Department (Stations 141 and 142): I got to touch the MDC while sitting in the officer's seat during an open house. And, there were cookies. And pike poles.
- Plainfield Fire Territory (Station 121): Shiniest apparatus on the planet.
- Indianapolis Fire Department (Stations ... well, it's a long list now): Over an hour talking about master stream operations with a ladder guy. A braut, pink lemonade, and two hours climbing all over the engine with an engine guy. Baking tips from a 25 year veteran of the department.
- Indiana Smoke Diver, Class 1: Students, instructors and assistants, including those good ole boys from the Georgia Smoke Diver program.

And, as usual, I do this for fun, not profit. The canon characters are not mine, but the mistakes (without exception) are.