During my youth, I hated reading and writing. In grade school, I failed repeatedly, ending up in the eighth grade at the age of sixteen. Eventually, I ran away to join the army. I was caught, returned home, and then was allowed to quit school to work in a local woolen mill in Marcellus, New York. Later, at the age of seventeen, I joined the army and began an adventure that lasted over twenty-five years. For some reason, the army motivated me to beef up my limited education. I began to take night classes, and finally took the test to obtain an equivalency high school diploma. I had the bug then, and went on to earn college credits. After I had accumulated two years of credits, I was commissioned a warrant officer. Later, after I earned my bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Alaska while I was stationed in Fairbanks, I received a direct commission to first lieutenant.During my army career, I not only managed to earn a degree, but was married and had three daughters along the way. My wife, Renate, and I have traveled the world together in the army and as a civil servant. I was posted to Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, serving twice in Vietnam.After retiring from the army, I worked for the National Security Agency and the Department of the Army as a civil servant for another seventeen years. As a civilian, I went on to earn two master of science degees from the George Washington University in DC. One masters was in special studies with a major in telecommunications operations management, and the second was in public administration. Throughout my military and civilian careers, I began to read and write a lot. I had accumulated numerous book drafts by the time I retired from the government in 1991. That is when I really got serious about writing.Retired, I broke out the drafts I had on hand, and began to rewrite them over and over again, and then put them in the proper format for publication. I now have nine published novels. I have fact sheets, synopses and complete chapter excerpts posted for all of my books on my free information website www.bookworldinfo.com. Many of my novels have military themes, mainly, I think, because of my extensive miltary background. My writing objective is simple. I want to entertain. I have always thought that if a writer could make a reader laugh or cry, maybe happy, maybe sad, or even angry, he or she has done their job of writing well.Now, Renate and I reside in Mobile, Alabama where I have a new book brewing in my head. I hope to have a workable draft down on paper soon, and then watch the rewrites fly.

At the age of seventeen, I entered the army as a recruit with an eighth-grade education. Twenty-five years later, I retired from the army as a major with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
My primary military and civilian awards include: two Meritorious Service Medals, three Bronze Star Medals and four Army Commendation Medals, along with the Decoration for Meritorious Civilian Service Medal.