Fred Neff has published numerous magazine articles, as well as children's books and a non-fiction self-help book titled Clues to Success-Making Rhyme out of Reason. He received his bachelor's degree in Journalism from San Diego State University and was also on the start-up staff as an intern for a new publication, gaining his first byline in the premier issue of San Diego Home/Garden Magazine. Prior to SDSU during the waning years of the Vietnam conflict he served aboard a Destroyer, a Submarine Tender, and then the fast-attack submarine, USS Gurnard (SSN-662), for the remainder of his six years of active duty in the U.S. Navy. While much of his desire to write over the years was fashioned after internalizing the positive messages from self-help books and seminars, he also began writing and publishing children's books after his son, Calvin, was born in 2005. According to Fred, when people started buying his Calvin and Dad books and then continued to purchase them, he no longer harbored the doubts that keep many writers from sharing their works with the public. Then on a dare from one of his co-workers to give back to the community, he designed and taught a night course, How to Write a Children's Book, where he helped many students realize their dreams of becoming a published author. Some of them to date have been published numerous times. As an illustrator for books, Bill enjoys making whimsical yet descriptive pictures to accompany text. His favorite style combines cartooning and realism. The somewhat loose look to the art has spirit, and affirms the hand of an individual, in an age when much art has a computerized appearance.Bill's collaboration with Fred Neff is among his favorite endeavors. Bill admires Fred's imagination, and his style, which is both personal and personable. When Bill starts to illustrate one of Fred's stories, some of the author's input is very specific, but most is left for Bill to interpret visually.Hartford Art School gave Bill a BFA in 1973, and they haven't asked for it back, so he figures he's doing pretty well. After having worked at ad agencies, Bill now earns a living through caricature drawing and illustration. The illustration assignments fall into the categories of books, advertisements, and publications. [Illustration gallery at: www.dougalart.com].His caricature work falls into the categories of mail-order for gifts, events and retail at fairs, etc. [www.caricaturedrawing.net]. Bill Also likes writing, performing and recording songs for kids. [www.dougalmusic.net]. Bill's wife, Dori, teaches art. They reside in Lebanon, CT.