M. R. JAMES lives with his wife, Janet, and their two dogs on a small farm in a rural southern Indiana county with more wildlife than residents. A published freelance writer of Western and murder mystery short stories while still a teenager, he launched his lengthy award-winning career as a professional journalist working for daily newspapers in Indiana and his native Illinois. M. R. was a Sports and City Editor, Feature Writer, and the Founder/Editor of BOWHUNTER, a special interest magazine for archery hunters. M. R. also taught basic and creative writing classes for three separate Indiana universities. A member of the national Archery Hall of Fame, he’s the author of nine published books and co-author or editor of several others. The germ of his idea for this first novel appeared while living 16 years in northwestern Montana’s scenic Flathead Valley during.