Rick is a 26 year old Weber State University graduate with a degree in Computer Science. He currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he works as a System Administrator. Rick’s creative side has always begged to be expressed, and he finds pleasure in exercising both the analytical and creative sides of his brain. He hopes for a career in computer security, unless he becomes a best selling author first!

Rick has enjoyed writing since he was very young, and his first children's book was prominently displayed in his elementary school library... a work which he wrote when he was six. Rick’s first novel attempt was a book entitled Vengeance, and was written for his high school friends when he was a sophomore. This short "novelette" was never published, and will remain a piece of work dedicated to his closest friends.

When Rick was a Junior in high school, he wrote the prologue to Façade of Shadows as a short story for his English class. It was later entered into the school's literary magazine and won first place in the short fiction category. It was then that Rick decided to turn the story into an actual novel. With the help of Cassi, one of Rick’s closest friends, the plot was designed, and after three months of planning, he finally began to write. Rick kept the ending a secret, and, working without an outline, penned the first pages of this epic novel in a 12th grade science class. Only three months later, the first draft was completed.

In college, Rick submitted my manuscript to various publishers, not really expecting to be accepted by any of them. After various rejections, Rick stumbled across the home page of American Book Publishing. After just a few weeks, he had a publishing contract. Strangely enough, this publishing house is based in Rick’s hometown.

After a two year break, Rick returned to American Book, signed the contract, and started working with a wonderful editor named Gail Snyder to polish the manuscript and get it ready for printing. The rest is history, and Rick’s work is evident in his first published novel.

Rick is also a fiction columnist for Scribe & Quill magazine. His hobbies include playing the piano, figure skating, and reading. He has also been a volunteer for the Utah Humanities Council and a member of the League of Utah Writers.

Rick can be contacted at his website: www.facadeofshadows.com