G. Ernest Smith is a retired Space Shuttle launch team member who lives near Cape Canaveral, Florida with his wife, Mary Beth. He has a son, Brandon, and a daughter, Mona, a brother, Jeff, and a sister, Gwen, who all live in California. He enjoys sailing, Harley Davidsons, fishing, writing, Miatas and eating (not necessarily in that order). He has been a contributing writer for Cycle World and Florida Touch and Go magazines. He is a graduate of Rollins College and the Florida Institute of Technology and holds a Masters degree in Computer Science.