The inspiration for LAST SONG OF THE WHALES came when a humpback whale surfaced inches from me while I was boating in Barkley Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Like many who are spiritually moved by such a close encounter with a whale, I was haunted by the possibility of a communication between the whale and me for several days. During that time, I had the opportunity to learn about the plastic pollution of our oceans, specifically the “Great Garbage Patch” in the North Pacific gyre. Appalled at how little public awareness there was about this serious problem, I decided to be the first to write a non-fiction book on the subject. Something about the whale encounter, however, prompted me to begin a story that would more emotionally reveal the important connections between life on earth and the plastic problem. I sat down at the computer and the story flowed from my head to my fingers. Thirty-six days of almost non-stop writing later and the first draft was finished.


Most of my books have been on the cutting edge of new ideas that might help bring wellness to the world. My first books introduced the important need for improved physical fitness among firefighters.I followed up with the first book on the economic benefits of employee fitness programs. Through my subsequent books I became a pioneer with regard to making children and parents aware of unhealthy advertising for young children; revealing how emergency first responders can save lives by using spontaneous hypnosis at an emergency scene; exposing the problem of “environmental backlash;” presenting an Indigenous approach to character education; exposing the probability that Senator Paul Wellstone was assassinated; capturing stories of doctoral program graduates whose dissertations were considered an “alternative” to standard academic fare; collecting a series of narratives about anti-Indianism in America; and introducing an Indigenous counter to western neuro-psychology. As these topics might reveal, I have relied more and more on Indigenous wisdom to inform my efforts to illuminate ways to overcome certain health barriers for individuals and our planet. A mixed blood myself, it took time for me to realize the important contribution Indigenous Peoples, who still remember the old ways of being in the world, can make to today’s problems.

In addition to writing, I am a former member of the U.S. Equestrian Team for the 100 mile endurance event. I current play arena polo and my wife and I enjoy sailing and kayaking. I play piano and flute and while serving as a professor at the College of Educational Leadership and Change for Fielding Graduate University, I continue to learn from my doctoral students.