At 18, I nearly severed my right index finger. That ruined a planned career as a classical pianist. Once healed, I volunteered for a stint in the Army during the Vietnam disagreement, which provided advanced training in Russian and experience as a cryptanalyst. When I resumed college I completed a B.S. in Wildlife Management at the University of Maine. After college I spent 23 years at Great Northern Paper Company and 13 years in health care, also working as a freelance Registered Maine Guide, following the lead of my cousin, Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby who, in 1897, was issued Maine Guide license #1. Born in Florida but raised in Lima, Ohio, and in Farmington, Maine, I am immersed in hobbies from model railroading to beer making and from woodworking to collecting historical documents. I like to read the classics such as O. Henry and Charles Dickens, non-fiction by authors such as Simon Singh and John McPhee, and the works of the early Christian theologians, who add dimension to a life of faith. With all of these interests to support it, I find that writing comes easily.