I was born and raised in Albuquerque New Mexico. My parents both grew up during the great depression, and my father fought in WWII with the US Marine Corps. I learned to love reading at an early age, I read "The Hobbit" for the first time in second grade. My parents encouraged my love of books to the point of spoiling me. I might not have been able to talk them into getting me a two dollar toy, but a twenty dollar book was mine for the asking. I also developed a great fascination with military history, as well as fantasy and science fiction. Some of my favorite authors are Tolkien, Heinlein, Piper, Pratchett, Asimov, Clark, and Manchester.