I’ve been writing ever since I figured out how to put a pencil to paper. My first book was published when I was in kindergarten, a one-of-one hand-drawn narrative of a day in my life. It took its rightful place on the classroom bookshelf alongside other more professional publications. My interests in writing and computers led me to a career in technical writing, mainly in software documentation for various products and companies, ranging from small startups that no longer exist, to Lotus Software, which also no longer exists. Writing for an audience that never read my work (who reads the instructions?) was not the most fulfilling, but it did pay the bills and provide some useful experience.
As a lifelong car enthusiast, I decided to try my hand at automotive writing on the side. This led to some of my work from the old Oppositelock community being featured on Jalopnik. After a stint on the staff of Right Foot Down, I turned my car writing into a paying side gig at The Drive and Autotrader. Later, car writing became my full-time job at FIXD, first as a writer, followed by a promotion to editor, which was my break into editorial work. My auto writing career has come full circle, as I am now a News Writer at Jalopnik, back where it all started.
I picked up motorcycling later in life, which I’m glad about because I’m not sure how long I would’ve lived if I’d started riding with the same attitude I had about my early driving career. Starting with occasional motorcycle articles for The Drive, I turned motorcycle writing into a side gig as well. I was first a Daily News Writer, then the Weekend Editor for RideApart. I’m currently on pause as a contributor to ADVRider as other work has taken up more of my time. I’ve also written for ADV Pulse, with occasional contributions to ATV.com.
In 2021, I decided to pull up stakes and join the growing van life movement. My home on wheels has been through several iterations since then, with the latest consisting of a converted Ford Transit cargo van as my living space, a cargo trailer as my garage, and a Suzuki V-Strom 650 as my “daily driver.” I had always wanted to travel and explore, but either had no time while working or no money while unemployed. Having set myself up in a line of work I can do anywhere with an internet connection, I was able to travel while continuing to work remotely, whether at my “winter” home base in Quartzsite, Arizona, or wherever else my travels took me during the warmer parts of the year. I have since settled down with a wonderful woman I met in my travels in the Ozarks of Arkansas, which I now call home. We hope to travel together again someday, but now we’re focusing on building a home together, both literally and figuratively.
Naturally, I also wrote extensively about my travels. You can follow my adventures at Smokey Da Van, which is mainly a travel blog about my journey but also contains how-to articles and guides for living on the road.
