If it is possible to have a split personality without being schizophrenic, I qualify. I am both Dorien Grey, who writes books and lives in a world free of the constraints of reality, and Roger Margason, regular human being who lives a regular, though not uninteresting life.

While Dorien didn’t officially come into existence until 2000, Roger has been around much longer. Two years into college, I left to join the Naval Aviation Cadet program. Washing out after a year, I spent the rest of my brief military career on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean at the height of the cold war. The journal I kept of this time in the military, in the form of letters home, honed my writing skills and provided me with a wealth of experiences to draw from in my future writing. These letters are now available in print, ebook, and soon-to-be audiobook as A World Ago: a Navy Man’s Letters Home, 1954-1956.

Returning to Northern Illinois University after service, I graduated with a B.A. in English, and embarked on a series of jobs in the editing field. While working for a Los Angeles publishing house, I was instrumental in establishing a division exclusively for the publication of gay paperbacks and magazines, of which I became editor, moving on to edit a leading L.A. based international gay men's magazine.

Tiring of earthquakes, brush fires, mud slides, and riots, I returned to the Midwest, where Dorien emerged, full-blown, like Venus from the sea. We’ve been inseparable (and interchangeable) ever since.

“We” moved back to Chicago in 2006, where Dorien now devotes full theme to writing, including the popular Dick Hardesty Mystery series, the Elliott Smith (paranormal) Mystery, the stand-alone western/romance/adventure novel, Calico, plus several non fiction works--A World Ago: A Navy Man's Letters Home, 1954-1956; Short Circuits: A Life in Blogs, and a book of poems (Dreams of a Calico Mouse). All these books are being done as audiobooks.

But for a greater insight into the "real person" behind Dorien Grey, the curious are invited to check out my website (http://www.doriengrey.com), where you can read the first chapter of any or all of my books for free, and my various blogs: Dorien Grey and Me (http://www.doriengreyandme.com) and A Life in Photos (http://www.doriengreyphotolife.blogspot.com) among them.

There is nothing I love more than hearing from a reader...or potential reader. If you'd like to contact me, just drop me a note at doriengrey@gmail.com.