I served a two-year proselyting mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in Colombia, South America, where I became fluent in Spanish. I later married a beautiful Colombian BYU student. We've been happily married now for thirty years and have five children: three boys and two girls, ages twenty-two through twenty-nine, including a set of twins. Three of our children are now married, and we have four grandchildren — with hopefully many more on the way.

During our early married years, I worked mostly in construction-related fields. I became a licensed General Contractor and had my own construction company and painting company. I also worked part-time for several years as a Real Estate Appraiser. I also spent a few years employed by the Church, maintaining all of the Church properties and chapels in Central America and the Caribbean, while living in San Jose, Costa Rica with my family.

In the mid-80s, I changed careers and discovered it was more fun working indoors on computers than it was working out in the boiling heat and freezing cold. I've been in the computer/network arena for about twenty years now, and have traveled extensively in the process. I've worked in (or at least driven through) forty-five of our fifty states, and, in addition, have been in twenty-two countries ... all in the western hemisphere.

In the mid-90s, I decided to try my hand at writing, having been an avid reader for most of my life. (I proudly declare myself as one of Chris Heimerdinger's biggest fans.) Publishing under the name of BJ Rowley, I currently have seven books in print — five of them action-adventure novels written mainly for Youth and Young Adults (and the Young at Heart), a non-fiction book written for Young Women, and a new, general-audience Christmas/Inspirational novel. I'm also a co-author of two "how-to" books published by LDStorymakers on how to write and get published in the LDS market. I hope to see one or two of my books converted into a movie in the near future. (more on that as soon as I know.) I do my writing in the evenings and during whatever other spare time I can arrange. I enjoy reading, and I take advantage of airplane flights for that purpose. When I'm at home, I like to play the piano and spend time with my family.

In the Church, I currently serve as the ward organist. I spent many years working in the Scouting program. I have also held several other music positions, stake positions, and served in two branch presidencies and a bishopric. If asked what my favorite job would be in the Church, I would have to say, "playing the piano in Primary — or giving firesides for the youth."