Some of Ken's favorites are early mornings, the desert in spring, kind and honest people, baseball and other sports played by those who don't take themselves too seriously, most kids, and films he and his Zoë can enjoy together. He reads classic novels, philosophy, theology, and all sorts of mysteries. On his blog, he offers some hard truths and encour-agement about living as a writer. He has long been the author of novels, stories, poems, maga-zine features, and essays. Lots of honors have come his way, including a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellow-ship; Poets, Essayists and Novelist's Ernest Hemingway Award; Private Eye Writers of America Best First Novel and Shamus Best Novel; and several San Diego and Los Angeles Book Awards.