I was born and spent most of my life in the US. I have at various times been a hobo, a gardener, a carpenter,a taxi driver, a winery worker, a tobacco picker, a disc jockey and have worked at other odd jobs too numerous to name. I returned to university at the age of 39 as a student of biology, ultimately earning a PhD in entomology. I moved to South Africa in 2003 and was occupied as a lecturer at Rhodes University in Grahamstown till February 2011 when I took early retirement and returned to the US. I now live in Sacramento, CA.  I have self-published 7 novels/short story collections, which are available at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/dadownie1. They are also available on Amazon and other online venues. I have published more than 30 scientific papers and articles. I am also a folk blues and jazz guitarist.

PhD in Entomology