The first time I really thought about writing was freshman year at Lake Forest High School. We had a creative writing assignment. Most of the other students turned in five, seven or 10 pages. I turned in a massive 30-page opus. My teacher took notice and recommend that I keep pushing myself. From that point on, I thought about writing as a career.I graduated from Auburn University in 2004 with a Journalism degree. I worked as a newspaper reporter for The Walton (FL) Sun, The Northwest Florida Daily News and The Panama City News Herald.I covered the schools, government, tourism, environment and anything else happening in a three-county stretch of the Florida Panhandle. I also covered crime… in Panama City, FL, which was crazy, scary, fun and sad.I was born in San Antonio, TX, but grew up outside of Chicago in Lake Forest, IL. I now live along the white stretches of sand and emerald waters in South Walton County, FL, with my wife Christina.