Look and Listen

Biography

Served with the US Army 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) as a light and heavy weapons specialist, French Interpreter, field radio operator (morse code) and photographer. Trained in guerilla warfare and counter-insurgency techniques. Skilled in martial arts, proficient in Silent Kill Techniques. BA Government (International Relations) California State University, Sacramento. Graduate studies on the Middle East. Studied the languages German, Spanish, French, Russian and Hebrew. Lived in 15 continental United States plus Hawaii, as well as Germany, England, France, and Canada. Retired from 28 years as a surveyor. Professional surveyor's license in New Hampshire and many years of heavy construction, specializing in highways, bridges, and especially tunnels. Guided two mile-long H-3 Interstate Highway tunnels through the Koolau Mountains on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Three years as a peace officer in security for the California State Department of Corrections. Dispatched for the Merrimack County Sheriff's department. Private contractor for the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) conducting background investigations for security clearances. Still maintain a Top Secret clearance with the federal government. Worked in private security. Miscellaneous jobs include, inter alia, car salesman, insurance salesman, store clerk, stock clerk, restaurant host, wine steward, bartender, bar manager, resort beverage manager, marina comptroller, and derrick hand on a drilling rig exploring for uranium on an Indian reservation in New Mexico. Spent two years in the Florida Keys sailing all manner of wind machines from Hobie Cat to Chinese junk; daysailors to yachts. Other interests include writing (published novelist), reading, oenology, domestic and international politics, range pistol shooting, and camping. I have read all the great religious texts of the world and studied the Bible for more than thirty years. I'm an ordained clergyman.

Inspiration

Life, first and foremost. Life is the most interesting thing going on, and as James Thurber astutely observed, "It's just one damn thing after another." There are far more stories than writers. Reflection leads to introspection which leads to contemplation which leads to inspiration. A buddy of mine, with whom I served in Special Forces, had written a dozen interesting novels with poor prose. Based on my emails, he encouraged me to write, so we collaborated on a legal thriller -- his story, my prose and enhancement. I've been writing ever since.