My name is LeRon L. Barton and I was born in Kansas City, Mo in 1978 (totally dating myself - LOL). Like any Midwestern person, I wanted to come to California. Why? Because of the weather and the beaches, duh! After going to school for IT and moving from San Diego to The Bay Area, which I absolutely love, there was a void in my life. I broke down and admitted to myself, I am an artist! All my life I knew that I wanted to be a writer, well a stuntman, then a race car driver (I still want to!), but finally settled on using the power of the written word. I have written poetry, short stories, essays, and two screen plays, but I have always wanted to write a book. The idea for Straight Dope came because I wanted to create something real, impactful, and that I had knowledge of. Where I come from, in my neighborhood, circle of friends, and way of life, drugs have always been around. Instead of taking a judgemental view on the topic, I wanted to have people tell their own story and listen. I just didn't want to talk to law enforcenment and get this uniform answer on drugs in America, I wanted a well rounded look into drug culture, hence the title, ''Straight Dope: A 360 degree look into American drug culture.'' This is my first book, but definetly not the last. I hope to continue to release projects that will make people take a step back and listen, learn, and as they say around my way - ''Recognize, realize, and analyze.''
