My brothers were always my heroes. The fact that were five and seven years older helped. The fact that they’re both pretty awesome human beings didn’t hurt either. Although torturing me with The Overgrown Pin Cushion, and kissing Catherine Kolkworf on the bus… Well, they are older brothers.

Both helped me musically, inspiring me to take up guitar, which I have now played about three decades longer than I am good. I followed Michael into marching band and enjoyed it passionately.

Michael’s plan to become an engineer led me into almost Associates in Science degree in Pre-Engineering with an eye toward architecture. Not making it through College Algebra changed my mind, and I also realized I probably needed more constant human interaction than an architect was likely to have [or at least that was my belief at the time.].

From James I got a love for theatre and writing.  Theatre was a huge part of my life from age 12 up until about age 42. I got a degree in education and performance. I wrote, directed, acted in, stage-managed, designed sets & makeup in untold plays.

I wrote music, songs, and learned to play guitar well enough to write the chords for the lyrics I sang. In 1991 I started my first novel. I wrote short stories and started submitting them. All along, the spectres of my old grandfather, and the legend of my brother and mother, all writers, nudged me.

So it is with great happiness and a touch of pride that I announce the publication of my oldest brother’s first novel, CLAUSTROM, a space opera set in a distant future a long way from Earth.  It’s a great yarn in the tradition of Harry Harrison, not necessarily law-abiding good guys and definite bad guys. If you have Kindle Unlimited you can read the ebook for free.  You can also sample free stuff at his website: JamesSlaterBooks.com.  And available in print here. The novel is a great read.  And here’s to more to come!