Richard A JansmaRichard Jansma grew up in Iowa, always brilliant and active in sports as well as academics. Early on he was afflicted with a serious digestive disorder which distorted his life, but did not prevent him completing high levels of academic achievement. ventually it prevented him from finishing his Ph.D. at Michigan State University, and other frustrations sent him spiraling into disability and unemployment. However, he continued to write creatively and particularly encouraged other writers who went on to noteworthy publications. One among them, Linda Nemec Foster attributes her life as a writer, poet and presenter specifically to Richard's encouragement and advice at crucial times in her early development. Richard died at only fifty-three, just as he wrote in the initial poem of this volume, "I was always too young to die." Read More Read Less