R. L. Aversa

Books were my first true love. Ever since I was old enough to read I have had a love affair with books. I was a very solitary and reclusive child with few friends and would choose books over human companionship, sometimes even hiding in my closet and reading by flashlight. I'm 36 years old now, but if you ask anyone that knows me, they will tell you I'm still that lonely child hiding from the world behind a book.

As much as I love to live the life of fantasy in my books, however, the real world beckons from time to time. I have a man in my life that I love and have been with for eight years now. My five children, ranging in age from 7 years old to 20 years old, have been the source of my greatest joy in my life, as well as my greatest sorrow. I also have two grandchildren that I hope will someday avenge the trials and tribulations visited upon me by their mother.

According to most people, my job isn't something "they" would want to do. At least, thats what "they" tell me when I happen to mention what it is that I do for a living. I work in a group home for adults with developemental disabilities, all of them low-functioning and most with severe medical complications. They are people who are too mentally and physically compromised to live on their own and require more specialized care then can typically be provided by their families at home. It seems to me that what most people cringe from when they think about my job is the diapers. Yes, I change diapers, no I don't enjoy doing it, but its such a small aspect of what I do, that to me it doesn't really even matter.

I guess I don't have to mention that my biggest hobby is reading. I also love to write and aspire someday to be a published author. I have a completed manuscript for a children's book as well as several short stories that I am trying to find homes for. Currently I am working on more short stories as well as what I am hoping will be a full-length novel. My other hobbies include crocheting and being an occasional video game addict.

Lets see, what else can I say about myself. I like getting tattooed. Well, I should say I like having tattoos. The getting tattooed part isnt so much fun. I'm a Sagittarius. I'm Irish and Polish. I like to shop for books at the Salvation Army. I love animals and currently have a dog and a guinea pig. I recycle. My spiritual beliefs can best be described as Pagan. I love nature but spend very little time out in it due to a paralyzing fear of spiders. I suffer from Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety and Depression. I have a weird (and some would say unhealthy) fixation with death and dead bodies. My original goal in life was to become a doctor and go into forensics as a medical examiner. I like watching documentaries. I have a hair color fetish and have a tendancy to go out and dye my hair bright pink or blue or purple on a whim. I swear like a truck driver, but my boyfriend is a truck driver so it kinda works out.

Well, I guess thats really about it.

Boring.

I know.