I'm an entertainer. I want to dream. 

I read.
I write.

I listen. 

I observe. 

I talk. 

I believe everything can be told through storytelling. The answer to anything is usually found in the gray area, and I look to exhibit that mindset. 

 

My life has defined the meaning of taking an alternate route. In a world that has paved an expected life path, craving conformity, I have hopped off of it many times - my own butterfly effect if you will. Of course, I would never compare myself to Eckels, the "Sound of Thunder" character who singlehandedly coined the term 'Butterfly Effect.' I have assuredly not impacted the world with nearly the same imprint. However, what I can say is that I've often wondered about the outcomes of my own life if a few butterflies were stepped on along the way.

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 Consequently, I credit the Ray Bradbury masterpiece for igniting my passion for storytelling - and for dreaming. 

 

I have always been a writer. My first awareness of that was when I was recognized with a city-wide award for a short story titled "The Fat Snake." I was eight years old. Admittedly, the plot was reminiscent of just about every horror movie to date - bad dialogue, a few unbelievable scenarios (I mean, my innocent protagonist - another young boy - was swallowed by a snake, but somehow managed to sneak out of the beast's mouth as soon as it tried to attack someone else. That's quality shock value right there), and situations where the reader would definitely scream "don't go in there!" I have built off of that classic ever since. There was even a sequel, "The Fat Snake II."  

 

I have always been a musician. It began at my small, Episcopal elementary school, where I became an All-State recorder player. I'm not sure if that's actually a thing, but I was damn good. After my recorder career came to an end, I took up the drums as a teenager and played in a few bands through high school and beyond. Because of that dedication, I postponed college until the ripe age of 27, when the real world (that damn path again) reminded me that I wanted something else. Enter Texas A&M University. 

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Without too much detail, I've been a Texas A&M Aggie since taking my first breath. My grandfather, father, and brother are all Aggies, and even entering as a "non-traditional student" (I'm telling you, the path is real), it was always going to be Texas A&M. Whoop! During my time in Aggieland, I picked up a bass guitar and taught myself to play. Why not? 

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The Texas A&M journey reminded  me that I should be writing. It continuously slapped me with signs that I needed to follow my dreams. Multiple professors claimed "you must do something with your writing talent." I was chosen to work for the writing department, aiding students in the craft. I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in English and Education. I began to believe that I could indeed write. 

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If there was still any doubt, after A&M, I was accepted to The University of Glasgow's Master's programme (yes, British spelling) in Creative Writing. Aye, I did grad school in Scotland. I wear kilts, say things like "wee bit," and love haggis. I found my family clans and even got married in Fort William in the south Highlands. Adding to my musical instrument arsenal, I learned to play the bagpipes for my wedding party. I accompanied the hired band and played Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'," - the bagpipe edition. It could have been better, but bagpipes are a very difficult instrument, so gtfo. 

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Have I mentioned sports? Might as well go ahead and do so...

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Lost in this summation of my life is the fact that I absolutely adore sports and competition. Whether it's Texas A&M athletics or any other team (or individual) that I've committed my loyalty to, I will follow them to the end. No fair-weather-ness in this guy. As for my own athletic ability, I'm pretty decent at a lot of sports. But unfortunately, I was never able to key in on any one sport to excel at. I can occasionally break 80 in golf, and I have a "sweet spot" shooting the basketball. I even played varsity tennis in high school. But none of that translated into anyone offering me money to do those things. Perhaps I was meant to write about it all instead, who knows? 

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So, at the most convoluted crossroads of my life, lies a desire to share my passions with the world - by way of novels, short stories, copywriting and advertising, sports articles, blogs, and podcasts. I have more than enough content in this brain, stored up from years of preparation. Years of confusion, anxiety, gratification, and even defeat. It has all coalesced into a beautiful fusion of possibilities. Welcome. 

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I will always strive to entertain. I will create copy that companies will be jealous of. I will write speculative fiction that makes the masses  happy, sad, and angry, all at the same time. I will always have a discussion. I will always stay in the gray areas so that we can learn from one another. I will talk sports, politics, literature, music, and comedy - five of my favorite things in life. 

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In addition, I have a wife and two boys, and I love cheese and scotch. 

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