Waterfall Dance

Renowned English primatologist Emily Bennett carries purpose in the palm of her hand, whereas pretty boy defense lawyer Will Thomas drags it like a scrap of toilet paper stuck to his shoe. The chimpanzee communication project known as Simian Says, founded by Emily, has taught sign language to generations of chimps. Now, by adopting ASL recognition and speech synthesis technology designed for communication-impaired humans, her project has given voice to a particularly charismatic chimp named Sparks. When Emily is arrested for the rescue of three experimental chimps from a Seattle lab, the stage is set for her prize pupil to testify. Will the aimless young lawyer's attraction to his ambitious client drive him to win her case or interfere with her scheme? In the most sensational trial of the twenty-first century comes the most anticipated witness in courtroom history. The prospect of meaningful communication with a great ape is just around the corner-not the ambiguous interpretation of body language and gestures, but plain English. What will they say? What would you ask? What does it change? Available in paperback or digital at Amazon and other online booksellers. "Waterfall Dance is an intricate balance of politics, romance, science, and courtroom drama. A deeply enjoyable read which gently unveils the main character's humanity." Steven Nyquist

While most small children dream of becoming an astronaut or ballerina, I had it in my head that I would someday write. I don’t know how a ten-year-old boy gets it in his head that he wants to write, but there it was and there it remained for twenty-five years. As a young man I left the comfort of my Minnesota roots in search of solace in the Northwest, residing twice in Montana and living for nearly a decade in a remote cabin in Oregon. I traveled extensively throughout the American west, met a wild and wooly cast of characters, and experienced more than my fair share of both hardship and joy. Alcoholism counselor, carpenter, and ranch hand are but a few of the many occupations I’ve employed in an adventurous life. So enamored was I with the journey, I almost forgot my childhood dream to write about it-almost. At thirty-five, while on the road in a twenty-one foot trailer, the dream reemerged and I have been writing ever since. Home now in Minnesota, my literary focus is on stories that stir-slightly gritty, a bit too ambitious, always meaningful.