My career was in law enforcement, serving 25 years as a police officer in New Jersey. Before that I served in the U.S. Air Force working on the B-47 jet bomber. They were good years; they were years of my youth. Throuout those years I found opportunity to write, but not so much the things I was iinterested in writing. At least during my career. While my university education was delayed, I eventually completed my schooling and received degrees that were weighted heavily in behavioral sciences. I enjoyed those along with philosophy classes and english classes very much. In retirement I found more challenges and more opportunities to write creatively. I co-wrote a book that dealt with spirituality and permitted me to look deeper into the world of metaphysics, philosophy and theology. I often took courses in creative and professional writing. Some of that was in college while other times it was spending years being tutored in classes by professional writers. In Florida I found myself drawn more and more toward musical entertainers and many became close friends of mine. Mostly this was in the jazz arena and that included New Orleans where I enjoyed these venues up close. Eventually I put my thoughts  into my computer, along with much other prose and what came out recently was my first novel.  and is rather weighty at 458 pages in a 6X9 formated softback and hardback editions. Since then I have moved on and have produced several later editions. I have learned much in the last few years about the world of publishing with marketing becoming a large part of what consumes many writers. It certainly is different than the image one has about becoming an author. Much of the glamor is lost in sheer hard work and slow returns. Still, this is the price we must pay. My most recent endeavor will publish under a pseudonym. What is it? Well, I don't think here is the place to reveal that.  

Graduated with honors from college. Stopped smoking after 36 years - my best accomplishment. My achievements, certifications and awards are not important. My friends are!