I grew up on the far Northwest side of the Windy City, attending Taft High School with more notable others like Terry Kath (Chicago), Jim Jacobs (Grease), and Jim Grabowski (Packers). I can thank fascinating teachers like Harry S. Miller, who piqued my interest in flying saucers, banned cancer cures, and the visualization process; and John Brow, who led me into the writing life.

Before I became a full-time writer, I was a principal architect and real estate executive. I also have experience as a golf course caddie, drive-in restaurant manager, door-to-door salesman, and as a long-term student, leading to a B.Architecture from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago. I spent the '67 Summer of Love exploring Europe in a Volkswagen pickup truck, and for six months just after the 1968 May Day protests, I attended architectural school in Paris.