Born and raised in the coastal town of Florence, Oregon, the author was instilled with a knowledge and appreciation of literature and the natural world. His father, a logger by trade, was a guide on the Siuslaw River and his mother was an avid reader of fine literature. After acquiring a BA in literature and later an MA in theology, James worked for a year with his wife, Kathy in Southeast Alaska where their oldest son was born. James and his family returned to Oregon where he studied theatre and completed his secondary teaching degree. After teaching for two years in Oregon, where their second son was born, the author took up a position in Oamaru, New Zealand as teacher of English, Religious Studies and director of drama productions. During these years in Aotearoa, he became intimately involved in the Maori culture. The author has taught and directed drama in high school throughout his 18 years as a high school English teacher.