ABOUT ME

June 4, 2025

I was born on October 24, 1972 in Los Angeles, CA. I am the only child of my parents, both deceased, but not their only children. My mother fell victim to homicide when I was two years and five months old. Growing up without a mother profoundly impacted my life. I lived with my father and his family in Sacramento, CA from 1978 to 1985.

At 13 I left home and became an emancipated minor at 14, a month shy of my 15th birthday. I was estranged from my father for most of my life, until a year before his passing in 2006 when we had a five-hour telephone call while I was in Israel. I was baptized a Roman Catholic in infancy, and raised in an evangelical Christian home. Religion strongly influenced my life. Later, as an adult, I converted to Judaism under the Conservative movement. I no longer practice Judaism, nor am I affiliated in any way. In fact, I still celebrate Christmas, and I will always be fond of the teachings of Jesus.

I have always been an avid reader, as I grew up reading the Bible and many books. When I was in grade school, maybe 4th grade, after reading The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, I wondered how people wrote such incredible stories. Later, in 7th grade, during my first essay assignment in my English Class, I discovered a passion for writing that has filled me my whole life. I have always been an inquisitive person. I wanted to understand poverty and injustice and suffering. I wanted to make sense of my own life. These same existential questions are exactly what pepper my writings and life today.

I have made many mistakes and I have failed forward my entire life. Resilience and tenacity of purpose are my greatest strengths. As a deeply flawed human being, the page is too short to list my weaknesses. What inspires me most is to make a positive contribution to this world. To overcome the bad in my life and transform it into good and purpose. I write from experience. I have done a lot in my life and I have seen a lot. In many ways, my life was the textbook that some people learn from in school.

I have a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from American Public University in Charles Town, WV, which involved a 20-year effort. During this time I studied many subjects, from economics and nutrition to transportation logistics and social deviance. I also studied classical history, humanities and creative writing as a graduate student for a year. I am a veteran of the U.S. Army. I served during the War on Terror for a brief time, and took specialized courses in Terrorism Studies, The Army Organization and Effective Army Writing.

I am of largely European descent, mostly Spanish and Portuguese. I also have Native American ancestry. Going forward, I endeavor to continue interrogating myself, and to share my probing questions in writing, and to maintain courage and vision.