Raised on a large Texas ranch among a gaggle of siblings, the author spent much of his childhood exploring the endless variety of wild and fascinating places that abound there. As a young man, he traveled extensively in Europe, Central America, the Middle East, and South Asia. After obtaining a B.A. in Biblical Studies and then marriage in 1979, Jim lived with his wife and their two children in some of the world's poorest countries--namely, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Nepal. There he and his wife worked in a number of different capacities with Christian relief and development organizations, using every available opportunity to explore the natural and cultural riches they encountered. The author's experiences overseas led him to pursue a doctorate in cultural anthropology, which he completed in 1996. Jim then held the post of Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Washington State University until chronic illness forced him to discontinue teaching. Afterward he turned to writing, where he began to incorporate his diverse academic background and wide-ranging personal experiences into the unique perspective that characterizes his publications, among them several journal articles and two books. He currently lives in rural northern New Mexico with his lovely and talented wife, with whom he still explores the beauty and wonders of the natural and social world.
The author welcomes comments, suggestions, and constructive criticism.
Feel free to E-mail him at jmrotholz@aol.com.
