Sammie L. Simmons was born and raised in Leesburg, Florida on April 4 1967. He came to Kansas in August of 1985 after graduating high school to attend Bethel College. He graduated in 1989 with a degree in Social Work.

He married his wife Robin in 1992 and they have three children; Savannah, Tjaden and Andrew. Sammie says they have been his inspiration and help him continue to write.

Sammie's work experience began at a juvenile detention facility in Wichita, in the Youth Residence Hall. He stayed there for about nine months, then joined the State of Kansas as a Social Worker in the department of Social and Rehabilitation Services where he has stayed for seventeen years in March 2007 working with Juvenile offenders, child protective services and Customer Service.

Sammie began writing in college with the help of Raylene Penner. What started as a simple classroom assignment became a way for him to relax and listen to what was going on inside and express what was happening in the world. Of course he can't take all the credit. There are times that he would wake up at night with things running through his head that he would have to put down on paper. The result is the work that you see. GOD's Gift.

It is amazing how people are placed in your path to make sure you are to accomplish what you are intended to do. Duane Graham is just such a person. He has become a friend and a person can look at his work and be amazed. It is hoped that you take the "New Beginning" that God has given you and create a start for your life.

Sammie L. Simmons