If you care to know anything about me, I have moved that information to a following paragraph.  Once the lead in my bio, I realized that past accomplishments and achievements do not necessarily define who I am today.  Besides, those things are not usually very interesting to others.  We often think they are, but I think what is most important to others is what we have to offer them now.

Today, now...I have turned to helping those who grieve the loss of their precious family pet or who have other life's issues where they need help or a friend. In my books I give my personal e-mail address and not a few are too shy to use it. I am more than happy to give whatever time anyone needs for as long as they need it to deal with their grief and other problems. My service is always without cost or ulterior motive.

I also am available to help answer any questions other Authors might have about how to best market themselves and their work.  I am not an expert by any means, but have had modest success.  My first book as sold more than 75,000 copies and my fourth book is now on Barnes and Nobles best seller list.  A lot of that is just plain, dumb luck, but there are certain things one can do to facilitate success too.  Again, I am not an expert, but am willing to help anyone with the basics if they need it.  The best thing is, my help in this or any other matter is always free.

To satisfy the self-description requirement, I am a retired Coast Guard Officer, Licensed Baptist Preacher, Bible Teacher, Christian author and a host of other (yawn) things.  The last two years I have worked at the Wounded Warrior Battaltion at Ft. Riley, Kansas helping soldiers make the transition from Army to civilian life.  Though a sailor is at home on the ocean, being in a sea of soldiers was a new experience for me, but one I have enjoyed very much.

My hobbies are a bit more colorful than my work...Third Degree Black Belt, Shodokan Karate and former All-Hawaii Champion; alligator wrestler, gold prospector and being the kind of grandpa that all my grandson's classmates say "I wish he was my grandpa" about.

A glimpse into my social perspective.  I once thought academic achievement, degrees and certificates best defined a person's worth.  I often hired senior federal employees based upon those measurements.  It took time, but I learned that those with experience bring more to the table than those who "know", and that those with heart and spirit will excel beyond the simply intellectual every time.  Happy is the man or woman who possess both intellect and spirit.