I've been drawing since I can remember. With my main influences being Charles Schulz, MAD Magazine and Gary Larson, I started self-syndicating my 'off the mark' comic panel in 1987 to weekly newspapers. My comic panel went daily in 1991 and then in 2002, was signed to a major syndicate, United Media. In 2004 and 2006, 'off the mark' was nominated for "Best Newspaper Panel" by the National Cartoonists Society, and ultimately won the award in 2009. The comic also appears on greeting cards, calendars and other licensed products.

My website, offthemark.com, started out as a labor of love but these days generates reprint business. I also work on occasional side projects. Another of my childhood influences was a product called Wacky Packages, which consisted of product parody stickers. I am now lucky enough to be one of the designers for the modern sets of Wacky Packages for Topps. I find the most challenging part of the cartooning process is getting the ideas. I think most cartoonists would agree. These days, I go to a cafe one day a week to simply write ideas. It keeps me away from the distractions of home, like the computer, the phone, dirty dishes, needy pets and did I mention the computer? Clients have included: Del Monte, Proctor and Gamble, the US Military (anti-binge drinking campaign), Billboard Magazine, Glamour Magazine, The National Enquirer, Recycled Paper Greetings, Dixie Chicks and Chicken Soup for the Soul. My wife, Lynn, works as my business partner and our daughter contributes with inspiration ... as do three cats and a dog.

On a normal day, most cartoonists don't have very interesting schedules. I fit in quite well that way. I wake up when the clock is in double digits. Don't judge me. I generally have a bowl of cereal and some fruit for breakfast. I'll skim the newspaper and then read emails. I don't necessarily answer them right away so don't get impatient if I haven't answered yours yet. Then I'll make a hilarious comment on a friend's Facebook page. Then I'll pat the cat that just jumped on my lap. Finally, I'll get to work and draw. Or scan. Or do whatever needs to be done that day.

On Mondays, I write. Mondays are different from my other days. I spend all day in a coffee shop with a sketchbook and an iPod and try to come up with ideas. The iPod sometimes helps me focus by drowning out particularly annoying people. I nurse a large latte all day while I'm scribbling. In the evening, I come home for a scrumptious dinner and then draw and color my Sunday cartoon.

The rest of the week includes drawing the weekly cartoons. Hopefully, I had a productive Monday and I can dig right in. Sometimes the ideas aren't fully formed and I need to massage them a bit. I use 2H pencils on smooth Bristol board and enthusiastically erase with a kneaded eraser. When I'm happy enough with the drawing, I ink it over with Rapidograph pens and Micron markers. I scan the finished images into Photoshop. In there, I can clean them up and add shading or color. I can also check my email again, as I'm on the computer. I send my Sunday cartoons to the syndicate once a week, but I only send my daily cartoons to the syndicate once a month. I don't like having a weekly deadline with the daily cartoons so I give myself one big monthly one.

My lunches are light, maybe leftovers or a sandwich or a frozen burrito... whatever is convenient. The dog usually wants some. Later, I may walk the dog as sometimes it's the only time I get out of the house.

While working during the day, I often listen to music... unless I need to concentrate then I prefer quiet. In the evenings I'm still working but then the TV is on, only I'm not looking at it only listening to it. I can't tell you how many times I'll hear a commercial before I actually see the damn thing and then I'll think to myself, "Oh, THAT'S what's going on."

My wife is my business partner so we often discuss things like the offthemark.com web site. l also work on designing greeting cards, designing Wacky Packages, drawing custom jobs, writing blurbs for The Cartoonist Studio, and stuff like that. If you don't know what Wacky Packages are, look them up. I also work on the weekends, but not too much.

I have a habit of waiting till the last minute before doing things. This blurb, for instance was due August 31 and here I am finishing it at 1:00 in the morning. As far as I'm concerned it's still the 31st until I go to bed.