Raised near Washington, DC

Moved to Massachusetts to attend college, first at Radcliffe, then at Amherst

After graduating college, moved to L.A.

Worked as a freelance journalist and writer; wrote book reviews and served as a music supervisor on the CBS daytime serial "Capitol"

Published first novel, "First Born"

Screenwriting debut, "Edward Scissorhands"; also served as an associate producer; first association with director Tim Burton

Penned the screenplay for "The Addams Family"

Had three scripts produced, including "The Secret Garden" and "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas"

Directorial debut, "Black Beauty"; also scripted

Made second feature, "Buddy", the based on fact story of a 1920s socialite who maintained a menagerie including chimpanzees that she treated as her children

Wrote and directed the ABC/Disney presentation "Snow White: The Fairest of Them All"