Erich Eipert is a German-born, Iowa-reared former farm boy who left tractors behind to earn a PhD in immunology. He chucked out the degree soon after moving to the Pacific Northwest and now divvies his time between family and pursuits that include speculation in natural resource stocks, hiking the great American West, and writing both fiction and nonfiction. More about him and his musings can be found on his website at ericheipert.com.