Come in, come in. This is a page for my published work, photos, and rants.
When I had a day job, I was a travel and outdoor writer at The Arizona Republic, and a member of the Republic storyteller team. I also worked at KJZZ, a public radio affiliate, until I stepped away from the daily grind. I continue to write about the West. My forthcoming book, The Worst Fishing Dog Ever: And Other Essays, will be released by the University of New Mexico Press in the spring of 2026. It will be available through Amazon, the University of New Mexico Press, and other outlets. You can pre-order a copy here.
People fly-fish for many reasons, and describe their passion in many ways: a way of life, a calling, a little adventure, an art, a challenge, a way to experience nature, a waste of time. It appears that the whole point of fly-fishing is all that beautiful casting, but we quickly find that there’s more to it than that. We learn to cast, tie flies, read water. We scan maps until our eyes bleed, plan trips, get out when we can, living two lives – one rooted in the fast-paced world of progress and money, the other a world where cell service fades and time passes slowly. Over the years we learn about the soggy underbelly of the sport: old trucks, leaky waders, duct tape, fishing dogs and old friends. We embrace slowness in a society obsessed with speed and convenience, work like the Devil to catch a fish, only to let it go.
This book of essays examines the state of modern fly-fishing, which will face major challenges in the next couple of decades as climate change and public lands issues shape Western trout streams.
My work has appeared in Gray’s Sporting Journal, The Journal of Arizona History, New Mexico Historical Review, The New York Times, The Miami Herald, High Country News, USA Today, and other publications. I won several Arizona Press club awards over the years: features beat writing, personality profile and short form writing. My story on U.S. border history was part of a package that won a Pulitzer Prize.