My parents were cruel and unusual, instilling in me a love for both reading and history at an early age. My father and my uncle are both woodcarvers and woodworkers, my father having been trained by his uncle. At least one of my great-grandfathers was also a woodworker. I developed a love of games from my brother. Making historical board games out of scrap wood and step-down golf tees allowed me to combine several passions into one.