My influences in writing are widely varied from J. R. R. Tolkein to Ann Rule to Mark Twain. I read a lot of music biographies and military memoirs. I was a history major in college. History and music are my great loves. I also enjoy doing almost anything outdoors such as camping, fishing, or hunting. My motivation for finally writing a book grew from twenty years of people telling me,"You should write a book!" I think I've lived an interesting life, so I chose to record some of it.