Newspaper reporters are historians, recording the events of each day for a community. They say a daily newspaper is the first rough draft of history. Over the years, I became intrigued by the knowledge of the ancients. I clipped stories coming across my desk and retained others, amazed at how their discoveries became the foundations of today's modern science. While the West  was trying to crawl out of The Dark Ages, the East was measuring the diametre of the earth, discovering the concept of 0 (the basis of all mathematics), mapping the night sky and building great architectural edifices. They say the creations  of Leonardo de Vinci were inspired by Chinese writings and diagrams.  Born in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, John is a journalism graduate from Ryerson University in Toronto. Travel writer, bed and breakfast owner, skipper of his own 35-foot sailing boat, field editor for a major Canadian outdoor consumer magazine, organizer of a runners' Marathon shore- to-shore race and judge of major outdoor writing contests, John knows what constitutes good environmental writing.  Wright won several writing awards and is a member of the Outdoor Writers of Canada. When he retired in 1999, after almost 30 years of deadlines he spent several winters in southern lagoons. Much of the writing of this book took place while sailing in the Bahamas. Writing historical fiction has led Wright down many enjoyable roads of research and he has crossed paths with numerous people who have enhanced his fields of learning, knowledge and imagination. He is currently a member of the Haskins Society and the Historical Novel Society.  

Winner of eight provincial and a Canadian national writing awards.