The author was born in 1939 in Southwest Germany, before WW II started. His father owned a photo studio, but was drafted into the German army in 1941 and sent to the Russian front, where he died at...view moreThe author was born in 1939 in Southwest Germany, before WW II started. His father owned a photo studio, but was drafted into the German army in 1941 and sent to the Russian front, where he died at year's end. His mother continued with the photo business until she died in 1949 and he spent his teen-age years at his uncles'. In 1960 he emigrated to Canada where he worked as photographer, then went to University for a B.A and B.Ed. and before retirement in 2000 owned an apple-and cherry orchard in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia.view less