There are fascinating stories everywhere. Some come from the imaginations of writers, but others come from real life.  I tell both kinds of stories.

The stories on this page are features I've written for newspapers. They're not children's stories, but there may be something here to interest everyone.

Writing for newspapers is a lot different from writing a novel or even writing for magazines. Most of these stories were written in only a day or two! Still, they make me smile for one reason or another: maybe because they're about amazing people pursuing their passions, or maybe because they look at ordinary things in unusual ways. Some stories were just plain fun, like my one-and-only sports story, when I covered a rally for the Minnesota Twins, who came to St. Louis to challenge the Cardinals in the World Series. Or the time I went to interview a St. Louis resident who'd just been knighted - only to discover he was already a king. And there's the time I wrote a story on how to ride a bus. Yes, how to ride a bus.

I'll put up some children's stories sometime. Until then, enjoy these stories and the "cool stuff" on my other page.

Edward Schafer: African king savors royal life in west county
     Being knighted by the Republic of Poland didn't go to Edward Charles Schafer's head. But then, he was already a king.
     "King Edward" or "Sir Edward" - take your pick - has become somewhat accustomed to the royal life ...  now. At first it was something of a shock to Schafer, a public relations field
consultant who lives in west county.
     "Congratulations, your majesty, they've just elected you king."
                                                                   Read more ...

Transplanted Twins fans back 'home' team
     The Minnesota Twins arrived at the Breckenridge Inn in Frontenac Monday afternoon to the cheers of their devoted St. Louis fans - all seven of them.
     "Minnesotans aren't known for displaying their emotions in public too often," said Keith Lewis, a law student at Washington University. "They're a pretty reserved bunch." 
                                                                 Read more ...

Local minister portrays founder of Methodism
     Singing a hearty hymn, he comes driving up in a cart pulled by a pony. His long, white hair curls over the collar of his black robe, and a pair of oval, wire spectacles sits perched on his nose.
     He climbs out of the cart, turns the reins over to a nearby man and greets the small crowd of parishioners waiting on the steps of the little Methodist country church.
     This is a special occasion - the 144th anniversary of Blackwater Chapel. And a special occasion requires a special guest preacher - the Rev. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.
                                                                 Read more ...

Growing old - Fitly
     Huffing and puffing isn't part of this routine. In fact, the gray-haired exercisers are sitting down on the job.
     But it's a real workout; every muscle is stretched, every joint manipulated.
     "Your body was built to move," Dorothy Chrisman tells her less-than-youthful audience.
                                                                      Read more ...

West Coast pilgrims: What if Spanish beat Pilgrims to punch?
     It's Thanksgiving time - time to dress in colorful clothes, feast on fresh oranges and grapefruit, break out the castanets and drums, and do some serious drinking and dancing.
     Something wrong with the scenario? Not if Thanksgiving had evolved on the West Coast instead of the East.
     Imagine if the Spanish missionaries somehow beat the Pilgrims to the punch.
                                                                 Read more ...


Bus-riding blahs: No one tells you where to get off
     It was a mistake anyone could make - despite what your boss may say.
     The BMW was in the shop, so you thought you'd take the bus from your west county home to work. It might be a little inconvenient but, heck, you're a professional with a college degree - YOU can handle anything.
     Little did you realize you'd end up at Chesterfield Mall, miles away from your job. 
                                                                  Read more ...