A little bit about me
I live in a small big-city located in the heart of the Canadian prairies called Edmonton. When I'm not working (or writing), I spend my time with my wonderful wife, two beautiful boys, and our friendly dog Maggie.
Why I write books
It might seem strange that my novels take place in a fictional mountain town in Washington State, USA, when I live in the big-sky Canadian prairies. Years back, I worked a two-week geology contract during a regular vacation from a desk job. By the time that contract was up, my dream of being a geologist was too — it wasn't for me. But the colorful characters I met and the stark scenery of the mountains called to me. While I kept working desk jobs, I took on more challenging positions, until moving up wasn't the right challenge anymore, so I moved side-ways (like I had with my academic background), trying my hand at challenging work in other sectors. Throughout this change, the idea of a mountain town like Blue River remained — that it might make the perfect setting for a mystery novel. So when I finally got the courage to write about this town, my imagination took off. Now, I am attempting one of my most difficult twists yet — being a writer.
Why I touch upon tough subjects
Fortunately, I have volunteered a lot in my past. That volunteering took on many forms, but the best experiences involved talking to people of all stripes and backgrounds. It made me realize I don't have all the answers, and that being the dumbest person in the room isn't a negative. It's a positive thing. That feeling of uncertainty can help people listen, and active listening helps people learn. Learning can then spur on action. And by acting more, it can mean positive change — but not always. Failure can be a positive thing too. To try and fail means that I am pushing boundaries beyond what I thought possible. Therefore, by touching upon tough subjects, I hope my readers start their own more valuable conversations with friends and family and share ideas, thoughts and experiences not volunteered or considered before.