Tony has been a teacher for over two decades and currently teaches 8th grade American History. He taught Language Arts for the first 13 years and developed a love for YA and MG literature during that time with such great novels as Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and The Outsiders. He has aspirations to become a published author and has completed his first middle-grade novel, Freak Show Summer. He loves the writing process and hopes to continue for many more years. Tony is first and foremost a family man, married with three ornery kids. Much of his time is spent with them when not working or writing.