My formal education includes undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. I went on to attain graduate degrees in Computer Science and an MBA from Webster University since then. I know – nothing to do with writing. It pays the bills until I can sustain my standard of living with my writing endeavors – always the eternal optimist. :)
I
had a typical 'Leave it to Beaver' childhood. My father was a hard-working
man who owned his own automobile service station
(Conoco)
in
My mother died a few years after – lung cancer – but I think a broken heart
advanced her condition. She never recovered from my father’s death. None of us
really have, but it was most difficult on her. She was 50.
I speak of their passing only to let you know what motivates me. Time is
precious. I no longer take it for granted. I try to do as much as I can with my
time while I have the opportunity – smelling the roses along the way. I had
planned on waiting until I retired from my corporate career before embarking on
my second career in writing, but my parents death accelerated my plans. Why
wait?
I’ve only worked for 2 major companies in my life – both by choice. I had an
easy time in high school, graduating at the top of my class at
Grandview
High School, but college was a different story – a rude
awakening. I struggled in college. I was so burnt out after my freshman year
that I knew I wouldn’t make it four years straight if I couldn’t take more than
a summer break every year. I found a cooperative education program that allowed
me to work every other semester while I continued in school until I graduated.
From this cooperative education program, I was fortunate enough to land a job
with
AT&T as a computer programmer when I was 18 . I
stuck with the program and worked every other semester with AT&T until I
graduated. It took me 5 years to graduate, but I had accumulated 4 years of
experience in the corporate world – and a lot of companies out there were
knocking on my dorm door.
AT&T offered me a management job in
Jacksonville, Florida
– and I jumped at the chance. I spent the next 8
years working for different divisions within AT&T, gaining experience and
climbing the corporate ladder. I’ve since landed a better job with
Bank
of America, and find myself managing a group of
project managers supporting electronic commerce, MIS, and Risk Management
initiatives all over the
My interest in fantasy stems from my affiliation with
Dungeon & Dragons
throughout the years. I probably played or
dungeon-mastered every D&D module that was ever produced in the 1980’s. I find
it ironic that the producers of D&D have the same initials as I do – TSR.
Coincidence?
When I'm not working or writing, you can find me: teaching self defense classes (I have 5 black belts in Taekwondo, Jujitsu, Aikido, Shorin-Ryu Karate, Shindo Muso-Ryu Jodo and am now learning
Wing Chun Kung Fu); in comedy clubs (big fan and part-time standup comic); and in fitness centers
(certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor). Stay in shape, laugh often,
and maintaining a sense of discipline are the three keys to my success.