I was born and raised in rural Western New York and have been happily married to my wife Catherine for 43 years. We have three children and eight grandchildren. Retired from the military after twenty years and again from Civil Service after another eighteen. We have lived in different areas of the country from Hawaii to Virginia during the years of government service. My inspiration for writing the                        

    Oak Orchard Series are my vivid childhood recollections of that rural area of New York State. Armed only with a fishing pole and a small pocketknife I spent many summer days along the banks of Oak Orchard Creek and in the swamp.    

    Sometimes, my dog would bristle at the thick brush and growl. I could feel the hair on the back of neck stand up straight and I was positive something was watching me.