Mike Bove

In high school and college I enjoyed my English and Literature courses, but especially liked it when the assignment required imagination. I mean, when I was able to write what I wanted, not just feedback from the lessons or a book report. I first thought of writing a book while teaching in the 70's and 80's. But I thought the book would be about teaching acting or play production to youth. And I considered a book on track and field for students. Theater and coaching track were my passions then, and I had developed a training philosophy and many coaching procedures from my research and experiences in both disciplines. I did write an adaptation of a Russian folk tale for the stage. I produced and directed it with High School students.
The idea of writing a novel came much later, after my teaching and coaching careers were over, and I retired in 2010. I began devouring mysteries, and decided to begin writing my own.

There are many authors that I greatly admire in many genres. Their books are the ones that make me smile, laugh, or cry while reading, and keep and treasure afterward. If you borrow a Vonnegut from my collection, you will bring it back, or I'll go after it. I also save Shakespeare, Barbara Kingsolver, Joseph Wambaugh, and others. My favorite mystery writers who have provided inspiration mainly because of their style, construction, characters and dialogue are George V. Higgins, Stuart Woods, Wambaugh, Ross MacDonald, Elmore Leonard, and William G. Tappley. I love their clever dialogue, and I hope I can someday write something remotely similar.