Education:
BA, History, Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA
Executive MBA, Washington University in St. Louis, MO
Writing:
I studied creative writing in college under the tutelage of the world renowned author, Robert Olmstead, who at the time had a very red beard, was not world renowned, but did - I think, own his own vehicle. I find writing is more difficult than I imagined it being. I do not write quickly. It is laborious work but, the words do come and when the right ones find their way free- in there lies the joy.
Personal:
Family- Kath and I have been (and she would agree) happily married- almost 28 years. We have two wonderful children: Drew and Jenny and we enjoy spending time with each other- which is a very cool thing.
My Roots- Born in West Germany. Grew up in New England and Phoenixville, PA. Met Kath and raised our kids in the Midwest (Belleville, IL). Now we spend time on a lake in Ossipee, New Hampshire where I take hikes up mountains with my Australian Shepard-Duncan and then smoke cigars until I feel my lungs collapsing under me.
Professional: Linkedin
I had some success in sales and marketing then started an insurance agency with Kathy- something I bailed on and left her to manage, which she does extremely well. Spent some years as a growth strategy consultant. Now, I sit alone in a room and stare into my skull searching for intelligent life.
Who I read:
Everything. Seriously. Nonfiction. Fiction. Horror. Humor.
A Few Authors that inspired my early love of reading (and there are so many others)
John Jakes- Kent Family Chronicles were my introduction to history- I was eleven when I first read him. It was on a South Jersey beach and it didn't matter that my skin was burning to a red crisp or that I had to spend the evening in aloe -I had discovered the joy of books.
Ken Follet- The master. Sidenote- I got kissed for the first time at a showing of Eye of The Needle. Thankfully, she waited until the credits
James Michener- I found his books incredible- even the fossil and volcano stuff
Stephen King- His books are great and I love his humor but, his book on writing was especially helpful to me. He lives near my home in NH and my hope is that he will call me one day and we'll drink sweet tea and talk about baseball and then we'll jam- I sing Stephen, if you need someone for the band...just throwin' that out.
David McCullough- So smart, so accessible. History comes alive under his pen.
Robert Olmstead- My professor and my most enduring and personal connection to the written word. Reading Olmstead is like being witness to a lava flow: deliberate, stunning, heartbreaking, all consuming. He is that good and I hope that a small dash of his brilliance is sprinkled somewhere in the things I write.
BA, History, Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA
Executive MBA, Washington University in St. Louis, MO
Writing:
I studied creative writing in college under the tutelage of the world renowned author, Robert Olmstead, who at the time had a very red beard, was not world renowned, but did - I think, own his own vehicle. I find writing is more difficult than I imagined it being. I do not write quickly. It is laborious work but, the words do come and when the right ones find their way free- in there lies the joy.
Personal:
Family- Kath and I have been (and she would agree) happily married- almost 28 years. We have two wonderful children: Drew and Jenny and we enjoy spending time with each other- which is a very cool thing.
My Roots- Born in West Germany. Grew up in New England and Phoenixville, PA. Met Kath and raised our kids in the Midwest (Belleville, IL). Now we spend time on a lake in Ossipee, New Hampshire where I take hikes up mountains with my Australian Shepard-Duncan and then smoke cigars until I feel my lungs collapsing under me.
Professional: Linkedin
I had some success in sales and marketing then started an insurance agency with Kathy- something I bailed on and left her to manage, which she does extremely well. Spent some years as a growth strategy consultant. Now, I sit alone in a room and stare into my skull searching for intelligent life.
Who I read:
Everything. Seriously. Nonfiction. Fiction. Horror. Humor.
A Few Authors that inspired my early love of reading (and there are so many others)
John Jakes- Kent Family Chronicles were my introduction to history- I was eleven when I first read him. It was on a South Jersey beach and it didn't matter that my skin was burning to a red crisp or that I had to spend the evening in aloe -I had discovered the joy of books.
Ken Follet- The master. Sidenote- I got kissed for the first time at a showing of Eye of The Needle. Thankfully, she waited until the credits
James Michener- I found his books incredible- even the fossil and volcano stuff
Stephen King- His books are great and I love his humor but, his book on writing was especially helpful to me. He lives near my home in NH and my hope is that he will call me one day and we'll drink sweet tea and talk about baseball and then we'll jam- I sing Stephen, if you need someone for the band...just throwin' that out.
David McCullough- So smart, so accessible. History comes alive under his pen.
Robert Olmstead- My professor and my most enduring and personal connection to the written word. Reading Olmstead is like being witness to a lava flow: deliberate, stunning, heartbreaking, all consuming. He is that good and I hope that a small dash of his brilliance is sprinkled somewhere in the things I write.