Robert James Shand grew older (he has yet to grow "up") in Brewer, Maine. A very small but proud and prosperous town on the Penobscot river.  He, like everyone else in his neighborhood, lived in what is now called an extended family.  Bob lived with his mother and father, his younger brother, Donnie, Aunt Anna, Uncle Mike, and Nana Wood, his grandmother.  His childhood was marked with summers of freedom to explore and discover nature as well as his own place in the world and long, dark, cold winters marked with boredom, depression, and pain.  Mr. Shand looks upon his High School English teacher as the most inspirational influence in his writing. No one in school ever called Mr. Shand a potential writer . He was an academic failure. He used school as a place to act out and meet girls. But Mr. Libby taught Bob much more than academics, he demonstrated personal integrety, as well.  His final message to Bob on graduation day was "You are the reason I will never teach again!" Mr. Shand is the author of Hadley's Cafe and other short stories and essays which will be published next year as a collection in what is tentitively titled A MAINE MAN ABROAD, Musings From a Cynical Soul.  Mr. Shand draws on his experiences as a Viet Nam veteran for  Hadley's Cafe, a powerful story about friendship, tradegy, and redemption. Mr. Shand's "how-to" ebook  RETIRE TO MEXICO-20 Questions You Need To Answer was inspired by his experiences preparing for and eventually retiring in Mexico.  Written in the popular "20 questions" format, this ebook is directed to those who are approaching retirement and looking at Mexico a retirement destination and is focused on the prep work necessary before moving. 

Robert James Shand holds a Master Degree in Education Counseling (go figure) from the University of Nebraska. He is a recovering alcoholic who worked for years counseling other dependent persons. Bob is married to Carolyn, his high school sweetheart.