Why did I write a novel involving the Deaf community?

My fairly recent ties to the community are really threefold:

• My sister is a community and part time VRS interpreter. She introduced me to VRS about two years ago and described the unusual FCC regulations that govern it. That fired up my overly imaginative brain and before I knew it I'd framed out Secret Signs.

• One of my brothers is an Army medic, (48th Brigade, Georgia National Guard). He's finishing up a tour in Afgahnistan now, and previously served a little over a year in Iraq. While there he was riding in a Humvee that was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) - (shown in the photos at right). They gave him a brand new Humvee and the very next day HE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER ONE! He's got substantial hearing loss, but refuses to leave his troopers in harm's way. Couldn't be prouder of him.

• At the CIA I got to know a gifted young case officer whose sign language abilities were incredible. He'd come into the Agency after 9/11 and did several back-to-back tours in 'dusty' areas of the world. Amazing guy. He's still out there doing the work that must be done. (Keep your head down my friend!)