Phyllis Jean Green was 8 years old when it dawned on her that she was born to write. Her first taste of success came when she won prize in a Springfield, IL newspaper contest at 12. 75 cents, WOW! [Sneeze all you want; in 1945, a penny was a penny.]    Divorce had plunged her, her mother, and little brother into scary circumstances, but money was nothing next to seeing her work in print. Life being what it is, it was 1986 before she was able to seriously pursue The Dream.  Full-time was still a glint, but the experience gained as a mother, student, and speech and language pathologist gave her the courage to tackle an autism-related biography.      Spinning Straw: the Jeff Apple Story [Diverse City Press, 1999].   Mother Patricia Marsh Apple of North Carolina, entrusted her with the story, and although it was painful to serve as conduit, the experience was transforming. At last count, the horrific but incredibly inspiring Spinning Straw is selling in seven countries.

Green's poems, stories, and essays have popped up here and there since l985. Countless print and Internet publications have published her works. She loves to experiment with different styles, and her writings reflect a broad range of interests. Current projects include a full-length book of poems and a pseudonymous memoir. She lives within a few megaphoned Beat Dooks of UNC-Chapel Hill. Her husband Ray, a talented artist and woodworker, is a retired city and regional planner. Shared interest include art in almost any form, the joy of being able to look out and see deer threading between beautiful hardwood trees, reading, movies, and their two Yorkshire Terriers, Nicky and Sugar. They are lucky enough to have four wonderful children [two by marriage], four granddaughters, a great grandson, and two great granddaughters. Phyllis is a member of Friday Noon Poets and the North Carolina Poetry Society. It is her privilege to write for the domestic-violence targeting organization, Angels That Care {see Lnks].   If a genie granted her four wishes, this is what she would say:   Peace, freedom, and equality for all -- and may no child go to bed hungry and afraid, ever again!