Barry Friedman is a retired orthopaedic surgeon. He is a graduate of Lafayette College and NYU School of Medicine. After an internship curtailed by World War Two, he was called to active duty as Medical Officer of USS Russell, a destroyer. Following the war, he completed an orthopaedic residency at University of Iowa and for 30 years practiced his specialty in Cleveland, Ohio. He and his wife Sue raised a daughter and two sons. Their family has expanded. As of 2012 they have five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In his retirement he has published nine novels and three nonfiction works. Friedman and his wife live in San Diego.