I grew up on a 400 acre ranch in the Hood River Valley. Both my parents were teachers. I graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a B.S. in Education with co-majors in English and biology. I did graduate work at Portland State University and George Fox University and graduated from GFU with a Master of Education. Currently I live in Seaside, Oregon with my wife Judy (also in education) and my daughter Gretchen who is studying to become a nurse at Clatsop Community College. My son Jordan, is a senior at Southern Oregon University and wants to teach science. When I am not teaching, I spend my time writing and taking photos for The Daily Astorian, taking classes at Reed College, and working on a novel.