Cary W. Tucker has not actually tried cooking honey glazed salmon and can scarcely juggle; however, he has learned how to sew a basic vest together. Iris and the Bear was influenced in part by the Grimms fairy tale, Snow White and Rose Red, but was primarily inspired by a dance at a Gaskell Ball with a lovely woman wearing a pale gown decorated with large, red roses. See more of his poetry at: www.carywtucker.com.