My father, born in Colorado, met my mother, born in Switzerland, when he went into the finance company where she worked and asked for a loan.

For someone like me who's lived in the same place her whole life - I mean, I lived three blocks from where I was born, and I met my future husband in the eighth grade - there are always family stories and legends passed down.

I have more than 100 legal pads filled with handwriting. Eight novels, two books for children, countless stories and essays.