Biography
I lived in Southern Arizona most of my life. A lot of my early years were spent on my belly in dry arroyos hunting sand rubies, converting the propane tank into a stagecoach and exploring the Sonoran desert on my horse. Later, my family had a place in Cochise County where we raised cattle and alfalfa.
My freelance work has covered a broad spectrum - advertising and editing, writing television and radio spots, political speeches, training manuals, brochures, articles and, of course, books. I've also taught creative writing and done editing through the Long Ridge Writers Group, the University of Arizona and Pima Community College.
My traditionally published books are: Enju (Northland Press; 1982); Lyons on Horses (Doubleday; 1991,co-written with horse trainer John Lyons); America's Best (AMC; 1995); The Last Song Dogs (Bantam; 1999); The Sporting Club (Bantam; 2000); Rode Hard, Put Away Dead (Bantam; 2001); Crack Shot (Bantam; 2002); Feathers Brush My Heart (Time Warner; 2002; Singing Valley Press; 2014); Traggedy Ann (Dell, 2003), Feathers Brush My Heart 2 (Wyatt-Mackenzie; 2013) and Reflections on a happy, bold & hopefully long life (Singing Valley Press; 2015). My short story, "Neighborhood Watch" appears in bestselling author Jeffery Deaver's A Hot and Sultry Night for Crime (Berkley Prime Crime, 2003). "The Rough String Rider," another of my short stories, appears in Hot Biscuits (University of New Mexico Press, 2002), edited by famed western writer Max Evans and Candy Moulton.
My mysteries have been among 5 nationally nominated books for both the Shamus and Barry Awards. Feathers Brush My Heart 2 was a finalist for the 2014 Indie Excellence Awards in the Death & Dying category. Reflections on a happy, bold & hopefully long life was a finalist for the 2015 Indie Excellence Awards in the Personal Growth category. I've been a judge for the Edgar Awards, the Shamus Awards, the St. Martin's Press Best First Novel Award andalso served on the board of the Arizona Humanities Council. In 2000, I was fortunate to be one of five nominees, the only writer, for the Arizona Arts Award.
My thrillers include: Bobby Bad and Harvesting Ray. Standard Messiah is my only metaphysical novel so far. An Ounce of Prevention is my nonfiction book on how to stay safe around horses.
Reflections on a happy, bold & hopefully long life is the 16th book I've written and the most recently published.
My favorite book? America's Best.
Many of my books are available in both ebook and traditional book formats.
I've always loved New Mexico which is where I now live. I garden, read, cook (and eat!), sketch, paint, write, play Mah-jongg and have fun.
Life is good.