I was born and raised in Muskogee, Oklahoma. I spent most of my youth there except for the four years my father was stationed in Columbus, Ohio at Lockbourne AFB.

    I grew up watching and hearing about the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs during what was known then as the "Space Race" with the former Soviet Union (USSR). Between this, the science fiction shows on television, and the movies dealing with space travel, it is understandable my interests revolved around the future and traveling in space. I even was interested in becoming an astronaut. Unfortunately I never followed up on my childhood dream.

    I learned much of the history around eastern Oklahoma from the elders of my family as well as listening to other elders. My lineage covers many ethnic groups. I do not deny any of them since they make me who I am. I am a registered member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. My Cherokee ancestors who moved to Oklahoma were considered "Old Settlers" since they moved to Oklahoma before the "Trail of Tears".

     I grew up developing many interests which I still enjoy today. My interests include but are not only held to history, nature, science, some sports, and education. Some my interests overlapped each other. Science combined with earth history and geology led in my interests in different rock types as well as fossils. Since education during the elementary to the secondary levels didn't go deep enough into these subjects or my other interests, I did go to the library often because I wanted learn during my "now" and not wait until I reached college level education.

    Speaking of education, I literally grew up in the Muskogee school system, because my maternal grandmother worked at one of the schools followed by my father and mother. Basically I was known to a number of my future teachers, principals, and other workers before I was born. Thanks to being known ahead of time there were higher than usual expectations for me. It was never an advantage nor disadvantage for me and I never pushed it either way.

    I was a cub scout leader, boy scout master, a substitute teacher, and secondary school football referee. I am basically a "Jack-of-all-trades-but-a-master-of-none". I therefore am always learning for I will never know it all. What I have learned I try to pass along to others.

      I come from a long line of veterans and warriors. So with that being true and being a "military brat", I delayed enlisted into the United States Air Force about mid way through my senior year of high school. After I completed basic training and my specialized training for my position at two different Air Force bases, I was stationed at McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas. I served as a member of a four man launch crew for the Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. My position was known by two names: Ballistic Missile Analysis Technician (BMAT) or Missile Systems Analysis Technician (MSAT). I served under the 381st SMW (Strategic Missile Wing) starting in the 532nd SMS (Strategic Missile Squadron) before being transferred to the 533rd SMS (Strategic Missile Squadron). Dealing with a nuclear weapon wasn't always an easy thing to think about considering its intended purpose, especially for someone fresh out of high school and starting a family. It was easier to deal with the tasks that needed done and worry about the worse case scenario if it happened. Luckily for me the worse case scenario never happened.

      While I was at my first training station I married my first wife and we had two sons together. Unfortunately we ended up getting a divorce shortly after I was honorably discharged.

      A short time after my discharge I began to attend Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Two years later I met the young woman who would later become my wife. We met through the activities board where we volunteered. At the time we met, I was helping paint a mural on canvas for the movie the board was going to show to the student body. The movie was Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan. Denise and I worked several events together. Less than a year later we were married, but when we started dating we hadn't planned to get married right away. In fact we had been dating other people and things hadn't worked out for either of us. We realized that we wanted to be together when ended one of our phone conversations with each of us saying "I love you". We had a son and a daughter.

    Each of us had our personal list of things we were interested in, but we did share a number of common interests. Nature, family history, space exploration, and sports are just a few. Some of those interests did lead to the idea for the first novel in which my family was supportive about.

    Though I have a number of sequel novels to this first one, I am not doing it for fame and fortune. I think it is something Denise would have wanted as well as our children and grandchildren like hearing that I am continuing. The great grandchildren are too young to think about such things yet.

    Between growing up, living in and working in different cities and states, I have learned things about these locations. What I learned may have future involvement in how some of the future novels are written.

    I will include more here later as to how my family and my life influenced the first novel. Such as how the family in the novel act, react, and speak in the novels is how my family did things through the years. I may even share a photo of my family which was taken at my brother's wedding two years before the first novel was to start. This photo might help people see the MacMurchaid family in a different light. I see the family slightly different than what my family was and is, but they are very similar in as much as they are very different.