I grew up in a few different areas, all in southeast Virginia. I was born and raised in Norfolk, the son of a military father and a tax-preparer mother. We later moved to a nice middle-class neighborhood in another smaller town with mostly friendly people and a nice, quiet atmosphere. I have one brother and one sister, both younger than myself.
I skipped two grades in middle school, after repeatedly testing far above average on assessment tests administered by both the elementary school I had gone to and the middle school I was attending at the time. My mentor and good friend Talmadge Darden took time out to make sure I was doing well, and to drive me to the high school for afternoon classes.
After I graduated high school, I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where I served for only a year before being discharged, honorably, for medical reasons. I had begun training as a cryptologic linguist at the Defense Language Institute's Foreign Language Center, in Monterey, California, where I studied Hebrew.
I've held a number of jobs and lived a number of different places. I've been a cashier, a food server, a factory worker, a casino dealer, and a salesman, among other things. I've lived in Virginia, Arkansas, California, Utah, Nevada, and even Texas. These different jobs and environments have given me a lot of experience in life and a number of different perspectives on the world. I've only been out of the country once, though. I visited Amsterdam, in Holland, in 2006. I had a great time, there were beautiful buildings everywhere, and the people were very hospitable and friendly. I hope to go back someday.
My hobbies include writing, gaming, enjoying good television shows, and reading good writing. I have made many friends and met many interesting people during my journey through life. I hope to meet many more people that I can call my friends, and I hope to share my writing and visions with the world.
