I’ve written more than a dozen books and lots of articles, essays, stories, and appellate briefs. I hold a law degree from the University of California at Berkeley, a master’s in English with an emphasis in fiction writing from the University of California at Davis, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
My legal and political analysis has appeared in The Washington Post, CNN.com, NBC, and other mainstream news outlets. A list of my publications is here.
My book prizes include the Jane Addams Book Prize, Carter G. Woodson Middle-Level Book Award, 2015, and California Reading Association Eureka Silver Honor Book.
For twelve years I maintained a private appellate law practice limited to representing indigents on appeal from adverse rulings.
I believe that democracy requires each of us to contribute. I also believe, with John Updike, that the purpose of literature is to expand our ability to sympathize.
4 January 2012