I have always loved fairy tales. Being born and raised in Germany may have something to do with it. Becoming a writer was a very romantic childhood fantasy of mine. I pictured myself writing by candlelight in some attic. Then life happened: I moved to the States, had five kids, and built a career as a psychiatrist. I was busy, but the stories that were floating around in my mind never went away; they were just biding their time. And now that I am semi-retired, they are demanding to be heard.