A native Detroiter and public school educator, Winston created the IA series, a coming of age hero's journey, as part of a creative writing and 'Boys Read' program. He is also piloting the Adopt an Author program to connect authors with young readers via the web to help foster the love of reading. He is a graduate of The Recording Institute of Detroit, Wayne State University, The Motion Picture Institute of Michigan, and received his MA and MFA in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. He has written songs with and for Grammy winner David Foster and record mogul Clive Davis. He has been a recording artist on Arista and Polygram records, and has written and/or produced songs for Gerald Levert, Gerald Alston, and many others. Winston currently lives with his daughter, Marquette, in Michigan and intends to acquire an African Grey parrot one day when he conquers his irrational fear of birds.