About the Author

Richard Neil LaBute Jr. was born in Michigan and raised in Washington State in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. His writing reflects his lifelong interest in history and linguistics as well as seven years active and three years reserve service as a regular in the United States Marine Corps. Since 2000, he has been engaged in animal husbandry and organic/sustainable farming in central Minnesota in addition to flying corporate aircraft and volunteer air ambulance part-time. Having traveled, worked or lived in over one hundred countries, including ten years spent in Japan, Mr. LaBute currently resides with his wife of thirty-three years, Yoko, on a small farm near their two daughters and three grandchildren.