I graduated from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, with a bachelor’s degree in English literature, before I joined the US Army.

After studying Chinese Mandarin at the Defense Language Institute, I served as a Chinese language voice intercept operator. Upon leaving the armed forces, I attended the University of Kansas, earning a bachelor’s in journalism and a master’s in East Asian studies, with a focus on Chinese language and politics.

I went on to become a freelance reporter, working out of Hong Kong for UPI, Business China, Asian Business, and numerous others. Some of my specific writing assignments have included an annual report on China’s government social insurance system for Watson Wyatt Worldwide consulting and special contributor articles on China stocks for equities.com.

I now live with my wife in the Philippines, writing novels and editing academic papers.