At sixty-six years of age, a Vietnam veteran, college graduate, father of three, grandfather, and great-grandfather, I could think of no one better qualified to be an author/writer. Life has a way of compounding experiences and events. What better way to loosen the load than by written expression and writing mystery thrillers. I have lived in Massachusetts my entire life, enjoying the seasonal changes (well, maybe not the winter so much—age has a way of letting the cold into your bones). Our pre–Civil War home, which came complete with a cigar-smoking spirit, is the perfect environment for me to develop evil characters and my not-so-perfect main character(s). Writing for me is a gift that is enjoyed and then passed on to others. There is nothing like being grabbed by a story that you can’t put down. That is the challenge: to develop mystery, suspense, and characters so that people don’t just read words, but they also experience the emotions and events that the words create. I am appreciative of the opportunity to write stories people will enjoy. Dr. John Manhold, a published author of fictional and academic books and retired college professor from Sarasota, Florida, has been my inspiration during this journey of storytelling. I will be forever grateful for his words of encouragement and learned opinions.