Born in Washington State, I grew up in Spokane but had the entire Pacific Northwest as my playground for hiking, camping, hunting and fishing. I have had face-to-face encounters with bears on mountain trails and shared huckleberry patches with them. I have been stalked by a cougar, and know what real fear feels like. I’ve drank from springs so cold it makes your teeth ache and I have seen waterfalls and other fantastic vistas few other people have seen.
I discovered that books could tell me about other places and people and things in the second grade, when I read a story about an Indian boy in South America and the animals and insects he saw in the Amazon jungle. Once I learned reading could transport me to places like that, I said good-bye to Dick and Jane and was off to wherever a book could take me.
I rode my bicycle thousands of miles, and drove my old pickup many more thousands. But books carried me from atomic structure to multiple galaxies, from my back yard to fantasy planets, and from auto repair to blazing six-guns, or through intricate conspiracies.
I have read great books, and classics, and I have read terrible books which made me wonder what kind of idiot would publish such a travesty – and I have read many wonderful books in between in various genres.
Leaning on my father’s stories, and tales my grandparents told of pioneer life in the Northwest, I sat down at my PC one day and began writing a story. At first, I wrote just as a hobby, something to do on a cold winter day. No one warned me this writing thing was addictive.
I love writing. I really do. The more I write, the more I learn about myself and my surroundings. So, let me share something with you. You don’t have to be college graduate with multiple classes and conferences and workshops under your belt to be a writer – to write. You just have to write.
You have to be willing to learn, and research, and grow personally as you write if you want your writing to improve. Taking classes is good, and I encourage it – as many as you can and as much as you can tolerate. But don’t let anyone tell you you cannot write unless you do.
I love my wife, my kids, my dog and cats.
I also love Farside and Dilbert cartoons, as well as movies like Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Avatar, Red, and most of the Marvel movies. One of the most powerful films I have ever seen is Sling Blade – that one can inspire some truly deep thinking about self and values, and how we relate to those around us.
I love lasagna, but it does not love me back. I like pale ales, smooth whiskey, and raspberry lemonade.
I hate being labeled in a box, almost anything about being PC, and bureaucracy. I also hate elitism and entitlement.
I believe deeply in having fun. You only get one life, so far as anyone knows, so sing with feeling and dance like Snoopy, belch and fart when you really need to, and ENJOY your life. If you are not having fun, stop and re-think what you are doing.