Richard E. Olson grew up in the rolling hills near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where his childhood was filled with duck ponds, trout streams, and church smorgasbords that would later inspire his writing. An avid reader since grade school-he still has the certificates to prove it-Richard originally planned to become a foreign correspondent but instead devoted more than thirty years to teaching Spanish in Wisconsin. His passion for languages and travel has taken him to Spain, Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and beyond, earning a master's degree in Hispanic Literature along the way. These days, he divides his time between reading, gardening, cooking, and sharing cultural presentations at The Landing senior center in Wausau. He and his partner of thirty-six years, Ray, enjoy road trips and living by his motto: "Leave the party while you're still having fun."