" Larry W. Waterfield is a native of Moberly in north central Missouri and studied history at the University of Missouri in Columbia, and later received a degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where he also did graduate work. For decades he worked as a reporter, editor, and columnist, and helped found a half-dozen business magazines. For 25 years he ran a news bureau for business publications in Washington, D.C. He has reported from 49 states and 30 foreign countries. Larry has written books about rural America, and about London during the Blitz bombing of WWII. He takes a special interest in developing rural storytelling and the promotion of rural and small town cultural amenities. He produced an award-winning series of television documentaries about U.S. and European cities--Washington, Paris, Rome, Prague, and Amsterdam, and also produced a television documentary about the U.S. Marine Corps band and ceremonial units in Washington. As a historian and illustrator he has studied the art and architecture of Rome, Italy, and created a series of illustrations and poster designs about cities, rural life, history, railroads, archi-tecture, and travel. His late wife, Sandra Forsee, a Missouri native, was a mathematician and early computer programming manager. His wife Eva de Veer formerly worked for the U.S. State Department. They have four grown children and stepchildren, and seven grandchildren. They reside in Fairfax County, Virginia."