I grew up in Topeka, Kansas. Throughout my childhood I loved stories of heroic warriors and adventurers, be they from history or literature. Seeking adventures of my own, I volunteered as an infantryman in the United States Marine Corps. Through Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, along with a WestPac, I managed to see a big chunk of the world. After the Marines, I earned a BA in Literature and a MA in History. This led to me working jobs that ranged from a bouncer at a night club, a deckhand on a boat, and a tour guide at Taliesin West (Scottsdale, Arizona). Eventually, I decided to get to get a MA in Education and go into teaching. This turned out to be one of my best decisions for it led to me meeting my future wife. I taught high school history for over a decade before I published my first novel.

 

History is a great collection of stories. I’m most fascinated by learning what characteristics and actions have led people, nations, and cultures to greatness; or, to their decline. I try to express those lessons from history into my fictional writing today.