About the Author

I grew up in Peoria, Illinois — a mid-sized industrial town in the heart of the Midwest — during a period of American history when our potential seemed limitless. Born into a nation still reeling from the Kennedy assassination, we nevertheless held onto the belief that we were capable of great things. All we had to do was try.

As the 1960s turned into the 1970s, even as a child, I could see the changes around us. Then came the Watergate hearings. That was the moment that changed everything — for me, at least. I remember it because it was one of those times when Dad gathered my sister, my brother, and me in front of the TV and told us to watch. “This is history unfolding before your eyes. Pay attention. This is what happens when power corrupts.”

From that day forward, we watched Face the Nation, Issues and Answers, and the rest of the Sunday morning shows. We watched, we listened, we learned. And for the rest of the week, we talked it through — over dinner, during commercials, wherever the conversation found us. It became a lasting exchange.

I moved out of the house at eighteen, like many a young man, but the conversation never stopped. Phone calls, actual letters, occasional visits. Then came email, and the floodgates opened — no more postage, no more long-distance charges, no more waiting six months for the next visit. We took full advantage: more than five thousand messages over twenty-plus years.

When we lost Dad, I lost my outlet — the person who loved the back-and-forth, the what-ifs. So I had to build my own. Fortunately, I am my father’s son, and as he would tell you, we shared one mind. That let me play devil’s advocate and argue both sides of every issue. It forced me not just to acknowledge a different perspective, but to understand it. I hope I’ve successfully navigated that very narrow fjord.

The list of issues became a list of policy papers, which became a list of scenes. Scenes needed characters, characters needed dialogue, and before I knew it, I had a trilogy’s worth of story to tell.

These days, I’m at my computer almost nightly while my love, Becky, watches from the sofa beside me. I write to keep the conversation with my Dad going.

And now I get to share it with you. 

I encourage you to dive into the discussions and share your perspectives on the topics I cover. Your feedback is invaluable, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on my novels, coding projects, and tech reviews. Together, we can create a vibrant community that celebrates creativity and innovation, bridging the gap between literature and technology.

As we explore these themes, I invite you to connect with me through comments and social media. Let’s build a dialogue that enriches our understanding of the world around us. Whether you’re a fellow writer, a tech enthusiast, or simply someone who enjoys a good story, there’s a place for you here. Thank you for being a part of this journey!