Having recently completed my first novel, THE MESSENGER, I am quickly learning that an author must also be a publicist. Since much of my time is spent hunched over a keyboard, I welcome the chance to meet and communicate with fellow readers and writers.     I worked for thirty years in the corporate world in jobs ranging from programmer to business analyst. Writing has always been part of my job description, be it software requirements, user guides, or marketing presentations. Fiction writing was my ”secret” hobby and the novel, my ultimate dream. Living and traveling in the Middle East has given me perspective on the culture and the people. Books abound with Arab terrorists so I wanted a new twist and decided to create an Arab protagonist. I read a wide variety of books including classics, biographies, history, and all manner of fiction. I require compelling characters and interesting settings that transport me from everyday life. That is my goal in writing my own novels.  Hard at work on my next book, I am also working on a sequel to THE MESSENGER by popular demand.