In My Good Life, you share your life with readers from your difficult childhood in Chicago to a late-life brush with death that forced you to reevaluate your experiences. Why was this an important book for you to write?

It was important for me to leave a legacy and digital footprint for children and grandchildren. I wished I had known more about my parents before they died. My children now grown had recently expressed a sincere desire to learn more about their dad. It also was on my to-do list when I retired in 2018. Sometimes we overestimate how much time we have left so it was always on the back burner. My near death experienced forced me to face the fact that the next day, week, or month are not guaranteed so as soon as I was able, I finished up the book.

 I appreciate the candid nature with which you tell your story. What was the most difficult thing for you to write about? 

The most difficult thing to write about was the death of my mother and wife. Initially I planned to leave these details out but they are integral to my story so they were included. Another area difficult for me to write about was my failures and missteps but that turned out to be the impetus of my future successes.

What surprised you most about yourself while revisiting memories and planning this book?

 I did not realize all the obstacles I had to overcome until I started to journalize the significant events in my life. The book resurrected feelings and memories I thought I had long forgotten. Obstacles were a part of my day-to-day living.

What advice would you give someone who is considering writing their own memoir?

I recommend those considering a memoir is to write from the heart. One of my biggest fears was not being able to express myself properly so I wrote all my thoughts down and revised later as required. My main goal was to transmit clear and concise thought and feelings. As with most things you must start. I started with a rough outline and filled in the details later.

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