Born in Rockaway Beach, Long Island, C.S. Adler has lived all over New York City. "I had a restless father, so we moved every couple of years; I saw all the boroughs. New York City was filled with empty lots I used to explore. I was fascinated with with the interesting weeds, bugs, wee beasties and flowers like honeysuckle, roses, and morning glory. And there was the zoo and the park. Manhattan's park at Riverside Drive was a teenage hangout and a great place to sunbathe.

"An only child, my family consisted of my mother, father, grandmother, and an aunt. My father was a chief petty officer in the Naval Reserve and a car mechanic; my mother was an office manager; and my grandmother was in charge of me. I roamed around a lot on my own and usually had friends to roam with. New York City...