I was born in Buffalo, New York on October 10, 1954. I moved to Phoenix with my family in 1957.  I went to grade school in west Phoenix and graduated from West Phoenix High School in 1972.  I played the drums in both grade school and in the marching band at West High.  I obtained my Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, in General Business Administration from the ASU College of Business in 1978 and graduated from the Arizona State University School of Law in 1981.  In law school I was on the Moot Court Board, was a member of the Order of the Coif, and participated every year as a writer and actor in the annual Law Follies. I now reside in Tempe.

I am married and have three children. My daughter, who graduated from the University of Southern California (English; Creative Writing) and Kings College, London (English Literature) is a senior editor at St. Martin’s Press in New York City; my son graduated from New York University (Dramatic Writing) and is a writer-composer living in Connecticut. My youngest daughter was adopted from China and attends NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, like her brother did.

In my free time, I run half marathons (ten so far), play the drums (drum set in the basement), and read all kinds of literature - especially biographies, history and politics. I love to travel the world, whenever possible -- especially if I get to spend time with my grandkids.