I was educated at the United States Air Force Academy, Arkansas State University, and The University of Tennessee. Somewhere along the way I was encouraged to write my bios in first person, so that...voir plusI was educated at the United States Air Force Academy, Arkansas State University, and The University of Tennessee. Somewhere along the way I was encouraged to write my bios in first person, so that is what you get. I've been writing since 1975, when my first science text book supplement was published by ESP, Inc. My first novel, A Question of Character, was co-written with my oldest son, John Abernathy, and I soon followed as solo author with a sequel, Nikita's War. Both books are political thrillers. My latest novel, titled Noah, is my first venture into a new genre, religious fiction, but is in reality an adventure story built around the legendary Noah's Ark. Along with the fiction, I am a columnist with The Daily Pamphlet and a periodic contributor to The Destin Log and The Campbell Courier.
If I have a single qualification that allows me to write fiction for a broad audience, it is that I have a wide range of experience and a pretty sound understanding of people from just about every walk of life. You hear people say, “I knew from the time I was a child that I wanted to be a ______ (fill in the blank). Not me. I’ve tried just about everything out there, sometimes by choice, often from necessity. Among other things, I have worked as a farm laborer, carpenter, assembly line worker, apprentice electrician, truck driver, hospital orderly, teacher (both public school and college), military officer, dentist, and author. I have run for Congress, crashed an airplane, survived a heart attack, written five books, and been married to the same wonderful lady for 39 years. I have shared a bologna sandwich with fellow farm workers while taking a brief break from our $5 per day job, and I have schmoozed with Bill Clinton during more formal meals. I even had lunch one time with Connie Kresky (Playboy Playmate of the Year in 1969). She was infinitely more interesting than Bill Clinton. That’s all I’m saying.
I still spend some of my time practicing dentistry and work a few hours a week as a general flunky in my son's publishing company, most of my time is spent either writing or traveling to promote my books. I love meeting fans at book signing and other promotional events, and do so as often as possible. My most notable heroes are Zane Grey and Doc Holliday, two other dentists who found gainful employment in other fields.voir moins