Greetings!

We’re Bob and Betty Hicks.  Together we’re a team of dreamers, and “climbers” up the mountain of life. We’re excited about “Tommie Turtle’s Secret” because it is the beginning of fulfilling a dream of making a difference in children’s lives.

Paralyzed by encephalitis at the age of 15, Bob’s life is an example of the “secret” of success, to focus on and develop the abilities you have, not what you don’t have. Forced to focus on using his brain, Bob earned 3 college degrees; a B.S. at Michigan State University, and Master’s degrees in speech communication at the Univ. of Mich. and the Univ. of Hawaii, where he taught for 24 years.  

After watching Betty chase a green tree toad around the living room trying to capture it under a paper cup, Bob felt inspired to write rhyming poems based on his memories of animals, birds, and critters he enjoyed as a child growing up on his grandfather’s farm.

A collection of Bob’s poems was awarded “Best Submission for Children’s Writing” at the 2005 Florida Christian Writer’s Conference. Encouraged by the award, Bob plans to use his poetry as a means to help children improve their verbal skills, and appreciate the power of words.  He hopes his life story will be a testimony that challenges and trials are gifts that God entrusts to us to make us stronger and better, and to prepare us for a purpose in life.

In pursuit of his dream, Bob has started a publishing company, R.Z. Enterprises of Florida, to market his first book, “Tommie Turtle’s Secret”.  
  
Bob and his wife Betty reside in New Port Richey, Florida, and are also active with their other home-based business doing marketing for Sunrider International.