Rem Westland turned to writing after a career in the military, academia, politics, public service, and consulting. He is the author of two self-published books: a work of non-fiction and a novel. Running for the People (2015) is about his run for public office in Canada’s federal election of 2011. Badly Hidden (2017) is the story of a former soldier who is responsible for the death of his wife during a PTSD event. A number of Westland’s short stories have been published by Ottawa Independent Writers. His articles on various topics have appeared in journals and magazines. During the writing of this story, he divided his time between a cottage in Ontario and a heritage home in St. Andrews, New Brunswick.
John was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. After spending two years in the Army, he returned home to join the Chicago Police Department. During his 12 years on the force he received numerous awards and commendations, including the Award of Valor and The Blue Star Award.
John left the Department to become an FBI Special Agent, and was assigned to Chicago, Alexandria, Detroit, Houston, and the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. He taught street survival to in-service and new agents, as well as internationally, to police in Budapest, Moscow, and Tashkent. He worked undercover for 2 ½ years in the Bureau’s first ever steroid investigation entitled, “Operation Equine.”
John has published dozens of articles on officer survival, training, and ethics, in print magazines and online with “Officer.com,” “LawOfficer.com,” and “New American Truth.” He is a member of the Public Safety Writers Association, The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers, Association, The Virginia Writers Club, Riverside Writers, and the FBI National Academy Associates (175th Session).
John owns his own business, LivSafe, delivering presentations on “Situational Awareness” to schools, churches, and civic groups.
He is an authorized NCAA speaker on steroids and drugs, and can also be found working as a Personal Trainer at AnyTime Fitness.
John and his wife, Christine, have been married for 38 years and have three children and four grandchildren.
Barbara Woster is an author, educator, and business owner. When she was 14 years of age, she suffered a serious trauma, which placed her on a path to becoming an author.
Author(s) BIO Shelley Wykoff spent her childhood growing up in the country playing in trees and creeks! An especially super day was when they caught crawfish or bottled lightning bugs. She was an avid reader supported by her mother who bought her the latest Hardy Boy mystery that was on the market each payday! Reading helped her through her parents’ divorce.
Shelley Attended Edinboro University where she majored in Criminal Justice and Sociology. She furthered her education at Mercyhurst University completing a Master’s certificate in Administration of Justice. A scholarship is also available there in honor of her late mother and maternal grandfather.
Shelley was first published in September 2011 in the project Women Warriors; Stories behind the Thin Blue Line.
This has garnered national attention in the industry, it continues to do well today!