He was born in Los Angeles of Jewish parents, growing up with a love of the outdoors--swimming in the Pacific Ocean, hopping a freight train that followed the Colorado River from its headwaters and...view moreHe was born in Los Angeles of Jewish parents, growing up with a love of the outdoors--swimming in the Pacific Ocean, hopping a freight train that followed the Colorado River from its headwaters and climbing Wyoming's Grand Tetons. He was encouraged to enter medical school, practicing emergency medicine until a serious illness caused him to return to writing historical novels of America's West. A Native woman of Wailaki and Yuki heritage revealed to the author the suppressed history of this massive rubout of Northern California's indigenous people during the time period, 1849-1870. RRview less