Irving Layton (March 12, 1912 – January 4, 2006)

When I was 13, my sister brought home a copy of Irving Layton's Collected Works, and I was mesmerized by his use of language to "tell it like it is.' Seven years later, in 1972, I had the good fortune of studying under Irving at York University in Toronto. He gathered together the cream of Canadian literature of the day (Richler, Atwood, Cohen, Purdy, and many others) to inspire his students to 'get out there and write.' I owe him a huge debt of gratitude.

While I have many memories of Layton the poet, the teacher, the mentor, one non-literary memory remains clear. On September 28, 1972, I was walking past his office, when he shouted at me to "get in here." On a tiny black and white TV in the corner of the room, the final game of the Canada/Russia Hockey Summit blared from it's crackling speaker. Together we watched the pinnacle event in Canadian sports as Paul Henderson scored the winning goal with just 34 seconds remaining in the third period.

Nancy Warren

I couldn't ask for a better friend in the business than Nancy. She is a USA Today best-selling author for her many women's fiction novels, and is now branching into mystery and screenwriting.

Nancy provided me a with a lot of help while I was writing God's Assassin. I had never written a romantic scene before, and it's probably safe to guess that Nancy hopes I never do again.

I could tell you a great story about the first time that we met, but she says I am not allowed to tell that one.

For more information about Nancy's work, visit http:www.nancywarren.net

Ridley Pearson

Ridley and I first met at a writer's conference in Seattle 1996. We later worked together on a spectacular writing conference for high school seniors in 1999, and again at an adult conference in 2004. Ridley has been a good friend that I can turn to for his always generous advice and inspiration. Every word that he puts down on paper inspires me to be a better writer. It was Ridley who suggested many years ago that I develop a comedic novel, after our mutual friend Dave Barry released Big Trouble.

In addition, I have to admit to being addicted to his novels, especially the Lou Boldt series, and the new Killer series.

For more information about Ridley, visit www.ridleypearson.com.

Dave Barry

Dave and I both taught at the 2006 Erma Bombeck Writer's Workshop at the University of Dayton. What can you say about the man who blazed the trail for humor writers by winning the Pulitzer Prize. As he says, we are both class clowns suffering from maturity impairment.

Visit Dave online at www.davebarry.com

Lynn Johnston

Lynn is an especially dear friend, even if she does say that she's glad she's not married to me. She is a wonderful person to compare notes with on this crazy business. She has given me a great deal of encouragement over the years. Her comic strip, For Better or For Worse is always one of the first things I look at when I sit down at my computer each morning.

Get a FBoFW fix at www.fborfw.com!

W. Bruce Cameron

Bruce and I taught at the 2004 Erma Bombeck Writer's Workshop at the University of Dayton. Bruce's column and mine ran in competing newspapers in the US. Several years ago he wrote a column about having teenage boys arrive to date one of his daughters. That column, titled Eight SImple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter became the basis for the hit TV sitcom starring the late John Ritter. His latest book takes it all step further with Eight Simple Rules For Marrying My Daughter. He's a good friend who is every bit as goofy and demented as he says I am.

Visit Bruce's website at www.wbrucecameron.com