I grew up as the son of a minister, a preacher’s kid, or PK if you will, long before those two letters became the title of my first novel. In elementary school, one of my poems was selected for publication in a children’s poetry collection. Seeing my words in print sparked something that has never left me. It continued on my high school newspaper, where I wrote a sarcastic humor column called Uncle Earl from Nam. The school administration wasn’t nearly as amused as my classmates.

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After high school, I served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where I crewed Sheridan tanks. I later served in Korea with a tank battalion as the commander’s driver, a role that allowed me to see much of the country.

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One day at Fort Bragg, other Sheridan tanks were preparing to fire Shillelagh missiles. The tanks that weren’t firing were assigned to road duty, stopping traffic several miles from the range in the unlikely event that a missile veered off course. Four female college students ended up waiting at our checkpoint for nearly an hour, and we spent the time talking and laughing together. That unexpected encounter later inspired a story I submitted to Penthouse Forum. To my surprise, it was published, reinforcing a lesson I’ve carried ever since: the best stories often come from the moments you never see coming.

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After leaving the Army, I enrolled at Michigan State University and joined The State News. There, I wrote a satirical column called Sgt. Mac. My column photo featured me wearing a gas mask and flashing the peace sign, which probably told readers everything they needed to know before they read the first sentence. Every Friday, I’d stand back and watch students pick up the paper, turn directly to my column, and either laugh out loud or shake their heads in disbelief. It was the first time I understood the power of my written word, not just to entertain, but to challenge people to think differently.

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My family also owned a fruit farm in eastern Michigan, where I worked most of my life and eventually became co-owner with my father. During a farm tour, I sat next to the owner of a magazine serving commercial fruit and vegetable growers. Over lunch, we realized I was a rare combination of industry insider and journalist. He was looking to sell. I was looking for my next chapter. It was a perfect fit, and I purchased the company.

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Over the next three decades, I grew it into a national B2B media company serving the agriculture, retail and sports industries. Along the way, I’ve sold hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising and written more stories than I can remember, covering everything from how to rogue a potato field to robotic apple pickers.

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Today, after a lifetime of telling other people’s stories, I’m telling one inspired by my life experiences and imagination. PK is my first literary novel and I hope you’ll enjoy following its journey to publication.

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