I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and have lived in California almost all my life. I love animals and nature and feel compelled to protect them. I was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus and was also born transgendered. I have not transitioned to being outwardly female yet, but hope to begin the journey someday soon. I have loved writing poetry ever since I was a child. I was on the editorial board of Toyon in 2009 and was the poetry editor for the national edition of the 2008 Red Wheelbarrow Literary Magazine. Also, my poems "Flickering Flames", "Nuts", and "Vision" were published previously in the student edition of the 2007 Red Wheelbarrow Literary Magazine, under the name "Brian Leigh Graham." In addition, "Nuts" won 2nd Prize in the 2007 Red Wheelbarrow Awards for Poetry.