Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 12:46:25 -0600 From: Kristine Batey Subject: INTRO Since I've made a submission, I suppose I should explain myself. I've been a writer since I learned how to read. What does that mean? It means I just knew that was what I wanted to do when I grew up. I've had poetry published sporadically over the years in small literary journals, as well as one short story and a couple of essays. One poem was in the 1979 Pushcart Prize collection. I've worked as a professional editor and writer, mostly for medical and marketing trade publications, for about 20 years. I've been married for 25 years(!) to a philosopher and photographer whose current day job is publication management. We have two daughters, ages 12 and 16, both of them writers and artists. I do some cartooning; I've done some folk singing. I currently work as a low-level administrator for the Northwestern University School of Music, in exchange for which they give me money--every two weeks, like clockwork! right into my bank account!--and medical benefits. I recommend University grunt work for writers: you get library access and e-mail. The additional bonus working with musicians is that they understand the concept of a "day job"--actually, all the faculty members I work with are there doing their day job. Hanging around the University gave me the chance to pick up some journal editorial work (which is why the job title in my signature will vary from post to post--depends on which computer I'm using). What else? Um, um: I play a little bit of clarinet and guitar and mountain dulcimer, and hardly any banjo and flute. I enjoy Shakespeare, Chaucer, Pogo, Doonesbury, the Simpsons, Babylon 5 (but not the preachy, pompous ones), Monty Python, Jane Austen, Hunter Thompson, Terry Pratchett--read Good Omens--Paula Poundstone, Rita Rudner, 20th century clarinet music, and the News from Lake Wobegon. I'm a lousy housekeeper and an indifferent cook, but I bake good bread.