I graduated from Cape Hatteras High School in 1967. I then attended North Carolina State University and graduated in 1970 with a B.A. in English. I went on and obtained an M.A. in English in 1973. I worked as a homicide investigator with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and was a member of the hostage rescue team from 1972-1976. I then attended Campbell College School of Law and graduated in 1979. I practiced law until 2017. I successfully defended thousands of men and women who were charged with serious crimes. I retired in 2017 in order to write novels.