David C. Jeffrey was born in Riverside, California, and now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. He graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with a degree in Biological Sciences. As a post-graduate student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, he conducted field research for the National Science Foundation in the rain forests of Costa Rica. He later pursued related work in Alaska and Yukon, and has published in several scientific journals. Mr. Jeffrey has worked as a science instructor, a microbiologist, and later as a cardiology RN for 25 years in acute care settings. An experienced wilderness trekker and naturalist, Jeffrey has solo-backpacked throughout the wild regions of North America and is a passionate advocate for environmental issues. Now retired, he devotes his energies to writing science fiction and performing as a professional jazz musician.