I’m a native New Mexican with deep Hispanic roots and can trace my family as far back as the late 1600s, when Barolome Lobato joined the de Vargas expedition to New Mexico to reclaim land for the Spanish Crown after being driven out during the Pueblo revolt. My mother was born in Santa Fe and my father in Ranchos de Taos.

I grew up in Albuquerque and returned to New Mexico in 2017 after spending most of my career in the Chicago Metro area. Chicago remains my favorite city in the US.

I’ve always been drawn to writing. I’ve written poetry, tragic short stories, and now focus on novels because of their expansive scope for storytelling.

I love cooking and hanging out in unspoiled places in nature. New Mexico truly is the Land of Enchantment with its rich history, stunning landscape, and warm people.

I’ve studied writing at the University of New Mexico, spent a summer at the University of Iowa Writers Workshop, and taken workshops through Manuscript Academy. I’ve been fortunate to study with skilled writer/teachers Kathy Kitts and Shirin Yim Leos. They deserve credit for my modest successes and bear no responsibility where I’ve fallen short.

I’m also indebted to Sargent Martinez of the Espanola Police Department for his advice on the technical aspects of investigating a murder. I’ve tried not to take too many liberties with truth.

As we say in the Land of Enchantment, welcome to New Mexico. Not really new. Not really Mexico.