Meet OTP Author John M. Wills!

Today, I am proud and happy to host fellow Oak Tree Press author, John M. Wills. John is the author of "A Year Without Christmas" (if you like Richard Paul Evans and Nicholas Sparks, you'll love this book!) and the Chicago Warriors Thriller series ("Midnight Battles in the Windy City", "Gripped by Fear", and "Targeted"), among other works of fiction and non-fiction. Now I'm turning the Back Deck over to John so he can tell you about himself:

Thank you for this opportunity to be a guest on your blog. Hopefully I will connect with new readers. By way of background, I was born and raised in Chicago, one of six children. Both my parents worked to feed, clothe, and educate us. Thus, there were many times when we served as our own babysitters. Despite not having some of the things our friends had, we never felt neglected or in need.

I’m a product of Chicago’s Catholic schools. I graduated from St. Laurence High School and St. Xavier University. I even spent some time at an Augustinian seminary, thinking I might become a priest—I didn’t. Instead I spent two years in the Army and then came home and joined the Chicago Police Department. I was a cop for more than 12 years before joining the FBI. I retired from the Bureau after serving 21 years. I immediately took a job as a trainer with a company located in Seattle, WA and worked with them for more than eight years.

I married my childhood sweetheart, Chris, who lived down the block from me. We are celebrating 45 years of marriage. We have three children and four grandchildren.

My writing career began after I retired from the FBI. As an agent, I was not allowed to publish anything outside of the Bureau, nor accept any remuneration for writing. Once I left, I felt my muse had been set free. I just completed my tenth book, HEALER, which is now at the editor’s desk. I’m hopeful OTP will publish it this year.

I’m also a freelance writer, having published more than 150 articles relating to police officer training. Physical fitness has always been one of my interests, thus I continue to maintain my personal trainer certificate and write articles on the subject. I also work for a video production company in Atlanta, writing scripts for videos of law enforcement officers and firefighters who killed in the line of duty.

Inasmuch as I have been so blessed in my life, I try to give back by volunteering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Being able to help grant wishes for children suffering from life-threatening conditions enriches their lives and fills them with hope, strength, and joy.

I write book reviews for the New York Journal of Books, and I’m a member of the National Book Critics Circle. My website is www.johnmwills.com, and I also write a blog, www.jwillsbooks.com.    

Thanks for taking over the reins of The Back Deck Blog today, John (especially since it's my 26th wedding anniversary and I get to take the day off!) I hope my readers will get to know you even better through your work!