From the time he set out to explore the world in his shiny white shoes at age two (the time his mother refers to as ‘running away’), Ready has been a free spirit—an adventurer.

 

Experiences like burning a hole in the linoleum by pretending an iron was a boat, and falling in love over and over again beginning in kindergarten, to working one of the world’s truly crappy jobs, Ready’s growing-up years were full of adventures and misadventures. His joyous nature didn’t always endear him to teachers and parents, but his curiosity and devilish attitude couldn’t be suppressed.

 

Ready’s childhood adventures are documented in his humorous memoir Being Ready. By turns, it’s raucously funny, sobering, loving, and heartbreaking—capturing universal childhood experiences. He acknowledges his family’s love, but also fearlessly explores the darker sides of family life and the journey to adulthood. Readers experience both the joy and pain Ready felt growing up in his imperfect but quite real world.

 

Ready says that music was constantly playing in his head. He was surprised to discover that not everyone experiences this. Inspired by the Beatles and the rock and roll movement, Ready began his music career by selling Christmas cards to earn enough money for his first guitar and his never-ending gear-lust. Ready played bass guitar and sang lead in various bands until he retired from performing after 40 years. During that time he procured access to a recording studio where he could record his original music. Ready has released three albums recorded at that studio, A-Major Music Company.

 

Ready’s creative passion remains. He continues to record the music that plays in his head, and more recently discovered the thrill of putting words on paper to create a book that grips the imagination. He is currently working on his fourth album and his second book. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife, Lucinda, and their two cats, Puke and Mr. Hurly.