For nearly three decades, Stephen Pierce has either reported on the newsmakers or served as a spokesman for them. When the opportunity arose that allowed him to trade all that in to pursue a simpler life, he grabbed it with both hands. He now lives in a quaint rural setting in East Texas with his wife and two dogs, and not too far from children and grandchildren. When he's not busy trying his hand at novel writing, he is attempting to be creative in the kitchen, garden, or workshop.Stephen began his writing career as a journalist in the United States Air Force, which allowed him to write about military life in Louisiana, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and California. He succumbed to the enticement of a traditional newspaper gig and landed at a daily newspaper in Northern California. He worked his way up from the copy desk to associate business editor. The lure of journalism eventually gave way to the necessities of life, so Stephen switched gears to marketing and public relations. Bookends to this career focused on communications were jobs stuffing hams, selling carpets and kitchen cabinets, managing a restaurant, and running a county fair. Along the way, he earned degrees in public affairs, industrial technology, and public administration. All this eclectic experience means Stephen has plenty of real-life experiences to draw upon to build the characters for his writing. His first foray into novel writing is Invisible Defense.