ANTHONY, Joseph Patrick 1964-

PERSONAL: Born October 10, 1964, in Denver, CO; son of Ward R. (a physician) and Doris M. (an occupational therapist) Anthony; married Cris Arbo (an illustrator), January 1, 1991; children: Alina Fae; stepchildren: Lisi, Julie, Arianna. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Attended St. John's College, Annapolis, MD, and St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. Politics: "Put kids first." Religion: "Life."

ADDRESSES: Home and offıce—Buckingham, VA. Agent—Alp Arts Co., 221 Fox Rd., Suite 7, Golden, CO 80403. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Author and screenwriter. Local Interagency Network for Children, member of board of directors, 1994-96. Military service: U.S. Navy, musician, 1987-91.

AWARDS, HONORS: Benjamin Franklin Silver Medal, Publishers Marketing Association, 1998, for The Dandelion Seed; Parent Council "outstanding selection," 2000, for In a Nutshell.

WRITINGS:

The Dandelion Seed (juvenile fiction), illustrated by Cris Arbo, Dawn Publications (Nevada City, CA), 1997.

In a Nutshell (juvenile fiction), illustrated by Cris Arbo, Dawn Publications (Nevada City, CA), 1999.

Innerworld (young adult fiction), Bonneville Books (Springville, UT), 2002.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Reformer, "an action/adventure screenplay about technology to destroy evil thoughts"; Up!, "a dramatic screenplay about a psychic healer with Down's syndrome"; Earthpainting, "an animated and live-action feature film, with Cris Arbo"; "several children's books, all parables about the meaning of life, including Little Blue Library and ABC Miracles (an alphabet book)."

SIDELIGHTS: Joseph Patrick Anthony once commented to CA: "I began writing because my wife needed a screenwriter for her film. I read screenplays and books about screenwriting, and I wrote a script for her. Then I wrote it again. Nine years and almost as many drafts later, Earthpainting is finally ready for financing.

"My writing has grown through the process of writing my other films and my children's books. Each is a story about finding one's highest calling and expressing it because I believe that calling, that 'soul purpose,' is a divine gift. It needs our constant attention. Above all things, it is why we are here, and when we are true to that deepest part of our self, where God speaks to us, everything else falls into place. Everything. In fact, the way I see it, the only real problem in the world is that people don't follow that dream of their highest potential, their divine spark. Every other problem is a symptom of that one. I want to get this message out in a big way, and in my lifetime, film is the best medium for doing that.

"Children's parables are another great way of communicating that message. When I sign a copy of The Dandelion Seed for somebody, I always add a reminder to 'live your dream!'"