This photo makes me contemplative…

It’s hard to believe that this picture was taken twelve years ago, when I was still giving concerts as a cellist. The fact is, I used to play professionally as a soloist, recitalist, chamber, and orchestral musician. I’ve been blessed to have performed in Carnegie Hall, Avery Fischer and Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, in the Cairo Royal Opera House, and in concert halls in South Africa, Israel, and Amaan Jordan (the latter a televised command performance by the Queen of Jordan.)

But in all those years as a musician, I never knew or dreamed that my life would take me through a long and winding path to where I am today (a professional writer, and author of thriller novels.)

I actually spent about 13 years in the IT industry after graduating with a doctorate in music from Johns Hopkins University. This was mainly to support my family, while I performed and taught cello on the side. But soon after I became a father, I realized that it was not going to be feasible to continue both concertizing and working at a full time corporate job, and spend enough time with my children.

The choice wasn’t too difficult to make, because I felt such a strong love for my kids. That’s why I let the concertizing go and focused on supporting and being there for my family.

But it seemed my creative side would not be so easily put to pasture.  Soon, I became interested in writing and made my first professional sale to an anthology published by Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books.

This is where one would usually say, the rest was history, except my own character arc and development had only just begun. Soon after I decided I wanted to become a professional writer as my ultimate career, my company for which I’d worked for almost a decade, decided to outsource my entire department to Bangalore and I found myself without any work or means of supporting my family.

Suffice it to say, there were many days of prayer and digging deep into my faith. If God is the good and all powerful God I believe Him to be, then did it make sense to despair? I’ll tell you this: my head and my heart had some work getting into alignment. But that’s what faith is, isn’t it? The hope for things unseen.

Within a couple of years of unemployment (with a short stint at a better job than the one I’d lost), I became a published author with my debut novel BEYOND JUSTICE. I had no idea how it would do in the market, and I can only say that it was divine providence that it received accolades from Publishers Weekly, Suspense Magazine, and hit #1 on several Barnes & Noble and Amazon bestseller lists.  A little while later, Simon & Schuster/Howard books offered me a contract for my second thriller DARKROOM (just last year).

Sometimes, if when I feel uncertain, I look back and realize that though my life has had its ups and downs, it’s always been protected and provided for by a loving Creator, who knows exactly what I’m meant to do and be.

Last night, as I listened to a recording of a Brahms Trio performed by Isaac Stern, Leonard Rose, and Eugene Istomin, my heart felt homesick for the musical life I once had. Maybe one day, I’ll return to the concert stage and play all the beautiful masterpieces I used to. But for now, I am counting my blessings: I have a loving family (a beautiful wife and exceptional kids), amazing friends and–I daresay, fans, I’m a full-time writer doing another thing I love doing. Truly my cup runneth over.

I’ve recently learned that we need to speak to our souls the truth. Not about the present circumstances, but about the blessings we actually have, and the One in Whom we can put our absolute trust.

I can already see how everything in my life has happened for a purpose higher than I can understand.  But I know that it has already begun to make sense and will continue to do so until the ultimate reveal–the understanding[...]

I had a great time chatting with Cyrus Webb, host of Midday Conversations recently. During the live show we talked about my writing, my life, and a bit about TERMINUS. Give a listen if you will. The interview can be heard by clicking the play button at the bottom of this post.

A while back, I had the distinct pleasure and honor of chatting with New York Times bestselling author James Rollins. We had a great time discussing his writing and his latest novel The Blood Gospel. Give it a listen and check out his books!

I had a great time chatting with Pia Lindstrom on Book Radio about my book DARKROOM.

We delved a great deal into the book, my career, my personal history. Hope you'll give it a listen!

Ms. Lindstrom is a wonderful host who made the interview lively and entertaining (for me, especially.)

Today, the tables were turned as I appeared as the guest on DIALOGUE: Between the Lines, a weekly blogtalk radio show which I usually host with Susan Wingate.

I did a radio interview on WMPC, 1230 AM for a show called "Off the Bookshelf." It was a brief but enjoyable time in which we discussed my journey into becoming a writer and my latest thriller DARKROOM.

Hope you'll give it a listen.

Some of you already know from my bio that prior to my work as an IT Professional, which preceded my career as a writer, I was a professional musician. That's right. I was a cellist who graduated from Juilliard with a Bachelor's and Master's degree, and a doctorate from Johns Hopkins University. I've performed on the stages of Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Cairo Royal Opera House, and concert halls in Israel, South Africa, Jordan and Israel

Susan Wingate and I had the pleasure of interviewing New York Times Bestselling author Steve Berry on DIALOGUE: Between the Lines.

Please click the player at the bottom of this post to listen via streaming audio.

I had a great time talking with Laura Lester Fournier on her radio show "Spiritually Speaking."

While I'm not what I'd call a "religious" person, I am a person of deep faith. On this show, I speak not only about my books and writing, but candidly about my faith which, while something integral to my being, is not something I push upon people. Rather, I try to live it out and share with those who may be interested.