ABOUT ME
My aim in life is to explore the world and its people, without fear or prejudice, and to broadly communicate what I learn through my writing and filmmaking.
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I was born and raised, proudly, in the Chicagoland area. I completed a B.A. in English and History at Indiana University in Bloomington, then lived and worked in Chicago until 2008, taking on roles in the real estate, financial trading, and education industries.
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I relocated to Los Angeles to complete an M.F.A. in Film and Television Producing at the University of Southern California. Afterwards, I worked as an independent producer and an financial services executive. Over time, I have written and/or produced five short films, five feature screenplays, a television pilot screenplay, and a major label blues CD.
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A brief detour took me to Brooklyn, where I completed writing my first book. Entitled The Crippler: Cage Fighting and My Life on the Edge, it recounts the complex and gritty life narrative of UFC legend and wild man Chris Leben. It was released in 2016 by Skyhorse Publishing and received very positive reviews in USA Today, Vice, and Library Journal, among other outlets.
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In 2016, I moved back to Los Angeles, where I continued to focus on creating enduring works of literature and film. Each chapter of my second nonfiction book, The Trigger: Narratives of the American Shooter, explores the life of an individual who has shot someone in America. It was released by Arcade Publishing in 2018. Outstanding reviews and PR for this book were featured in Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Vice, Salon, Publisher's Weekly, and more.
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I returned to Chicago in 2021. Since that time, I have written three books, which are pending publication. My first short story collection, entitled Vestiges, is slated for release in September of 2024. And, currently, I am in development on an indie feature film entitled The Mojave Devil. We are targeting late 2024 for production.
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