I’m often asked, “Why do you write” or “Why did you start writing?” I guess the ‘why” is that I find writing stories fulfilling, fun, challenging, mind expanding, mentally adventurous and I can do things through characters that I’d never do in real life. 

I was the “go to” guy in school who enjoyed writing not only my own papers but would write them for my friends too. I’d often get caught as the teacher would recognize my style or something. I never even thought of charging my friends back then and I guess that carried over. I’ve really paid too little attention to the compensation for my stories. If someone told me, “I read one of your books It was great. I couldn’t put it down,” that was worth more than the royalty on 100 book sales. I’ve always had other “real work” – mostly sales – so the compensation from my books was inconsequential. The only exception was probably the tad of time I spent as a newspaper reporter and newsletter editor. 

I guess in general you can categorize me as the classic workaholic. However, I didn’t start out that way. I grew up on a little farm in a log house that was built during the Civil War – 1864. I hated the farm. Hated the work. I didn’t like the cows and the chickens were worse. My father not only ran the farm but worked full time and was a local commissioner for over thirty years. He did all this minus his right hand what he’d lost in an accident at age twenty. I guess his work ethic was hidden in my blood and came out once I found Something I liked. When that happened, I was all in. Maybe too much sometimes. I’ve bounced off life’s bottom more than once but always rebounded. Along the way I’ve even acquired a minister license though I’ve never had a position that required it. 

Back in 2012 I had a major battle with oral cancer. After the surgery and treatment, I was sent home and basically told to sit and watch TV and dump nine cans of liquid down a tube every day until I passed. I was told I’d never speak or eat much again. But it wasn’t my time. In six months, I was back on the road working. My company and old customer graciously tolerated my severe speech and other limitation. Little by little everything improved and I’ve sold over fifty million dollars’ worth of product since then. Unfortunately, I still weigh over two-hundred pounds so I’m definitely consuming more than a few liquid drinks daily. However, I still do have some speech and eating limitations. 

My sales career has covered everything from door-to-door cold calling to being a National Sales Manager responsible for the entire USA and Canada as well as assisting with international sales. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled in 43 of our states.

I love History, especially of the American Southwest. That’s why I almost always incorporate something historical in my stories. I have a house full of antiques that fit my lifestyle well.

So why do I write? Maybe so that one moment I can be imagining being an Apache FBI agent. Then be hanging around with William Bonnie or talking with Abraham Lincoln or some totally fictitious character created in my own mind. Maybe I’m just compensating for how mundane my real life is. Whatever drives me my life is good. I wouldn’t trade with anyone.