About

So basically, I’ve made a career of avoiding the sunlight in my hometown of San Diego, California, where I’ve worked as a keyboard player and a live sound technician, a sound designer for the world-famous Old Globe Theatre, and an interactive designer for organizations both corporate and sundry, including MP3.com, Maxwell Industries, Titan, and National University. I’ve also taught at San Diego State, UCSD Extension and The Art Institute of California, San Diego.

Boredom, and a warped sense of literary ambition, led me to conceive of the character of Rolly Waters, the guitar-playing detective first featured in the San Diego Book Awards Finalist Black’s Beach Shuffle. Unduly encouraged by this early success, or perhaps from my personal need for symbolic revenge against guitar playing show-offs, I set about writing a second Rolly Waters Mystery, Border Field Blues, winner of the Genre Award at the 2013 Hollywood Book Festival. The third in the series, Desert City Diva, won bronze for Foreword Reviews Book of the Year (Mystery). The fourth Rolly Waters mystery, Ballast Point Breakdown, was the Geisel Award winner for “best-in-show” at the 2021 San Diego Book Awards.

Unlike my hard-rocking protagonist, I can only manage a couple of beers before I have to lie down and take a nap. I’ve managed to stay married to the same woman for more years than either of us probably expected, aided by a shared love for improvised adventures and an arid sense of humor.

Many years soaking up the temperate climate that my hometown is famous for has had no noticeable effect on my attitude.

Media Kit and Contact Form

Media Kit – Gillespie Field Groove

Media Kit – The Esmeralda Goodbye

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