Paul Nankivell was born in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The difficult
circumstances of his birth caused him to have a brain hemorrhage. Doctors deemed his prognosis so dire that they didn't think he would survive the first few weeks of life. And, if he did, he would be in a permanent vegetative state. But, he overcame those odds.

He became one of the first differently-abled students to mainstream into public schools in the 1970s. At age 27, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University Northridge in 1991.

He uses a motorized wheelchair due to cerebral palsy--which in Paul's case causes severe balance and coordination issues. His debut novel, Redefining Normal, is based on his experiences mainstreaming into "regular" schools

Today, Paul lives in Ventura County California where he's actively participated in accessibility rights for physically challenged people
by working in an advisory capacity for local organizations on their inclusion practices.