About Me
Professional Life
Ever since I was a kid, there were only two things I wanted to be when I grew up: a soldier and a writer. I mean, my teens were nothing but Platoon, Red Dawn and Stripes on the screen and Stephen King on the page. It was awesome. After earning an associate's degree in electronics, I joined the active Army and started what would end as a twenty-year career. After six years of active duty and a tour in West Germany, I joined the Iowa National Guard as a mechanized Combat Engineer, where not only did we get to shoot guns and play cards, we got to blow stuff up. I knew I had found my home for the next fourteen years. Budget cuts took our armor and anointed us air mobile, but that meant we got to ride in helicopters, so who could complain? During my time in the National Guard, I deployed twice, to Honduras in 1996 and Afghanistan in 2004. In the civilian world, I took a position with the government, where I continue to toil away hoping I can retire to my desk in a few years, making writing my full-time occupation.
My personal life
I live in Eastern Iowa with my family, our three cats, and a German Shepard named Sadie. My wife and I stay busy keeping them all fed and happy. We enjoy being home bodies, camping and we're always trying out new recipes or putting our spin on the classics. My current obsession is deep-dish pizza.