Born in Chicago and raised in its southwest suburbs, he became interested in science fiction by buying books through the Scholastic Reading Program in early grammar school. He graduated with a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Illinois at Urbana, then enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam conflict. Upon discharge from active duty, he embarked on an administrative management career at a commercial nuclear power plant. Early retirement beckoned, along with the opportunity to blow the dust off his degree and write fiction once again.

Biography provided by the author, June 2003.