Dee Tatro

Born: 01/18/1959 in Mason City, IA 
Parents: Virgil and Cheryl Sullivan
Siblings: 4 brothers, no sisters
Married: James Tatro in 1978; divorced in 1998
Children: Melissa, Andy, and Eli

In third grade Miss Sweezey introduced the class to the dynamics of writing for others and Dee, an avid reader even then, was smitten. She began her first novel that summer. Miss Duffy, her fourth grade teacher, encouraged her to experiment with poetry.

Dee Sullivan (left) and friend Cindy Larson at the public library the summer before 4 th grade.

“Mason is the home of Meredith Wilson, the music man, and I can’t tell you how many times I road my bike across the Music Man foot bridge to get to the library. I loved reading because you could go anywhere with a well-written book,” says Sullivan.

Sullivan finished Deadly Behavior in 1994 but it would take six years before the novel was released. Its original name was Dignity.

What about those three children? Sullivan beams with pride. “Melissa just got her first masters degree and is headed to Portland for her second. She takes incredible photos and soon will have her own website so watch for a connecting link here. Andy is the lead singer and guitarist of his blues group, Three Shots. His music is awesome. He’s heading back to Nebraska to further his current two-year degree. Click on the link below to learn more about his band. Eli is a superb actor with plans to head to New York for college and the stage. I’ll keep you updated as to his inevitable success.”

To read about Three Shots: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=132173

Regarding life, Dee adds, “All in all, what matters is who we are and how we affect those around us. Living through the death of my twenty year marriage was heart-wrenching, but one must move forward with faith, hope, and knowledge that God’s love does not waiver a single iota. We make mistakes, we’re human. It’s why we need Him.”