I find it a great tragedy that I have only one lifetime in which to experience all the wonders this world provides. It is this mindset that has led me to explore and experience as many things as I can, and that which I cannot do in person, I do so through the written word.
I have been writing since I first learned to read. From the true debut work, The Adventures of Super Gecko, written in fourth grade, all the way to The Paladin, I have spent my life creating worlds and characters and taking people on journeys.
I am thrilled about The Paladin and excitedly present this work to you. It has been my passion for several years now, seeing me through moves across the country -- even across the globe -- changes in career, and the death of both my parents. It is for them I dedicate this work.
I have been writing since I first learned to read. From the true debut work, The Adventures of Super Gecko, written in fourth grade, all the way to The Paladin, I have spent my life creating worlds and characters and taking people on journeys.
I am thrilled about The Paladin and excitedly present this work to you. It has been my passion for several years now, seeing me through moves across the country -- even across the globe -- changes in career, and the death of both my parents. It is for them I dedicate this work.
My life (so far)
While I rarely appreciate it as much as I should, I have been afforded a great many opportunities to experience life.
I lived and studied abroad in a lovely city in the Netherlands called Breda. There I met more Dutch friends than my Facebook can properly manage, as well as opened my mind to completely new ways of thinking and acting.
I have worked as a news photographer in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Entertainment Capitol of the World. The Strip was my home and I filmed and interviewed celebrities like Brad Garret and Mike Tyson. Flavor Flav bumped my tripod once. I was in the line of fire, right next to sniper trucks as a gunman stood off with police on the Strip. I watched a local Las Vegan gamer win a Blizzard Heroes of the Storm tournament that took him to a million dollar world championship. I watched a Bourne film get made. I've filmed President Obama while being informed not to make sudden moves because snipers had me and my colleagues in their sights. And I even helped a chicken cross the road.
I lived and studied abroad in a lovely city in the Netherlands called Breda. There I met more Dutch friends than my Facebook can properly manage, as well as opened my mind to completely new ways of thinking and acting.
I have worked as a news photographer in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Entertainment Capitol of the World. The Strip was my home and I filmed and interviewed celebrities like Brad Garret and Mike Tyson. Flavor Flav bumped my tripod once. I was in the line of fire, right next to sniper trucks as a gunman stood off with police on the Strip. I watched a local Las Vegan gamer win a Blizzard Heroes of the Storm tournament that took him to a million dollar world championship. I watched a Bourne film get made. I've filmed President Obama while being informed not to make sudden moves because snipers had me and my colleagues in their sights. And I even helped a chicken cross the road.
I've worn a lot of hats of the years. At my first news station I was an anchor, producer, editor, and even had my own entertainment segment weekly. But for all that fun, nothing came close to my time in the ring. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, your humble writer was a professional wrestler.
I founded a small promotion in where I trained others and put on shows. We had a great little following for a while and, when I left to study in the Netherlands, I made sure to keep learning there, too with Mr. Holland Johnny Evers and Shiek Al-Aziz from Pro Wrestling Holland. They helped me refine my craft and even taught me their respective finishers. In return? I taught two Europeans how to perform a European uppercut.
I founded a small promotion in where I trained others and put on shows. We had a great little following for a while and, when I left to study in the Netherlands, I made sure to keep learning there, too with Mr. Holland Johnny Evers and Shiek Al-Aziz from Pro Wrestling Holland. They helped me refine my craft and even taught me their respective finishers. In return? I taught two Europeans how to perform a European uppercut.
Most recently, though, I spent a year and a half teaching in China. Yes, that China. Spending so much time in a completely different culture, so far away from anyone that might consider me their family or friend, it was amazing learning opportunity. I've learned to think differently, learned to understand other perspectives, and learned to adapt.
I'm so thankful to the wonderful people in Zhongshan, most especially to the children I taught there. It was an honor and you all changed my life.
I'm so thankful to the wonderful people in Zhongshan, most especially to the children I taught there. It was an honor and you all changed my life.
