Growing up in southern Pennsylvania, a land rich with American History, I developed a love of books and would read just about anything I could get my hands on. From an early age I wanted to be an author. Having a strong belief in service to country I joined the US Air Force. During my twenty-year career, I was able to see much of the world and gained valuable life experiences. Never forgetting my dream of becoming an author, I often wrote stories for my myself and my family. During a tour of duty in New Mexico I fell in love with the beautiful desert landscape and developed an appreciation for the resiliency of the Native Americans who settled in and endured the rugged environment for thousands of years. A story combining an imaginary community of these proud people, vampires, and my love of American history started to develop in my mind and I just had to share it with the world. “So Much at Stake” is that story. I hope you enjoy reading it, and the continuing "Shaman Tales" saga, as much as I enjoy writing it.