After returning home from a difficult tour of duty in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Steven stepped back behind the frightening walls of a Massachusetts penitentiary where he battled each day as a prison investigator. Needless to say, there was great negativity in his life at that time, and very little opportunity to heal from his wartime demons (or pursue his dreams of being published). He finally decided to return to college to finish his degree in Criminal Justice. During one of the classes, his professor, Barry McKee, detailed police work, but barely touched on other topics. Steven finally raised his hand and asked, "As the criminal justice system is so vast, what about the courts, probation, parole - corrections?" Barry smiled and told Steven to see him after class. Steven thought he'd done it! In his office, Barry explained, "Except from the slanted perspectives of inmates, there's no real written material out there on corrections, or prisons." Barry smiled again and then dropped the bomb that would change Steven's life forever. "If you're so smart," he said, "why don't you write it?" It was the last push Steven needed to get writing. Nine months later, he placed the first draft of 6-5; A Different Shade of Blue (under the pen name, Steven Herberts) on Barry's desk. From then on, Steven was hooked. He was a writer. Under the pen name, Steven Herberts, he wrote in newspaper, magazine, and even penned two collections of poetry. Once he'd found his true voice, he began, The Unexpected Storm: The Gulf War Legacy; an emotional account of the Gulf War that would heal his soul, and the souls of other suffering veterans. Today, 15 years later, Steven has written 16 books (with 12 in publication), and has contributed to more than three dozen international anthologies. The father of two sons and one beautiful, little girl, his work has been showcased in such national literary journals as Taproot Literary Review, American Poetry Review and Fresh! Literary Magazine, as well as various magazines to include Angels on Earth, Obadiah, Titan, G.F.O. (U.K.), Skyline Literary, Alive Now, Dark Animus (Australia) and Spinnings Short Stories. Hundreds of his essays, poetry and short fiction have been contributed to Internet publications such as Zine5, New Mystery Reader, Wilmington Blues, Heartwarmers, The Murder Hole, Father's World, and dozens of others. His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN's American Morning, BET's Nightly News, Good Day Atlanta; in the New York Daily News, Newark Star Ledger, Boston Globe, Detroit Free Press, Providence Journal, Dallas Morning News, Orlando Sentinel, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, The Daily Oklahoman; and on 50+ nationally-syndicated radio shows from coast-to-coast. Steven is an accomplished speaker, and has presented before thousands. From Congressmen to schoolchildren, his separate lectures cover the realities of the Gulf War, adult incarceration, and the motivation needed to write and become published. He currently teaches the popular workshops Publish: See Your Work In Print and Writing Fiction That Sells. When not spending time with his children, writing, teaching, or promoting his published books/films, this Massachusetts author speaks publicly to troubled children through the Straight Ahead Program.