Steve's Writing
It was in his professional work that Steve began his writing career in earnest, but it wasn't writing children's stories about fishing. In fact it dealt with neither. His work requires him to analyze complex issues and explain them in ways that are understandable to decision makers who do not have as much technical knowledge as he does. Steve's writing ability soon became his calling card, and he was often asked to summarize some of the most complicated issues facing the Commission.

His writing was recognized by the National Regulatory Research Institute which awarded him its $300 First Prize in its 2003 Call for Papers. Steve's paper dealt with a highly technical issue relating to the appropriate level of profit that should be earned by a regulated utility.

Okay, so he can write. But where did he get the idea to write a book about fishing?

The Lost Candy Bar E-Mail Message
Making The Lost Candy Bar into a book happened somewhat by accident. The "manuscript" for the book was typed as an e-mail message to a dear friend for her 8-year old son to read. The story of the disastrous fishing trip with Grandpa was one that Steve had told to his friends' children over the years. He knew that children loved the story as when he saw them the next time the children often exclaimed, "Tell us about the candy bar that fell in the river."

Knowing that he had a winner of a story, Steve typed it up in about an hour and sent it to his friend. He expected that his friend's son would enjoy the story and that would be it.

Well, it didn't quite happen like that. His friend's son read the story. He really liked it. He told his mother. She really liked it. She told her husband. He really liked it. They suggested that he publish the story as a book. Steve then approached Goblin Fern Press, a Madison-based publisher. Everything then started happening at whirlwind speed. Steve could hardly believe it when a year later he was standing in an auditorium in St. Paul, Minnesota receiving the Merit Award for Humor from the Midwest Independent Publishers Association. If he had never sent the e-mail message to his friend, The Lost Candy Bar would reside in Steve's head and nowhere else.

All that from a little guy who didn't like to fish. Just for the record, Steve has not gone fishing in over 20 years. He has no plans to do so. He does, however, eat a candy bar almost everyday. His dad is still trying to convince him that he should eat ice cream as well.