K. D. Kragen

K.D. Kragen (kdkragen.com) is a philosopher, writer, teacher, editor, husband, father and grandfather. Somehow he actually manages to be all those things while still pursuing interests that include practicing Aikido and Iaido, riding his motorcycle (Veronica), and running (sometimes called fleeing).

A third generation San Franciscan, K.D. grew up in the Italian District of the city. As a child he developed a passion for classical music, especially the works of Katchatorian and Mendelsson, his love of music later included jazz, folk and rock-n'-roll -- metal, techno, rap. At 13 he began playing guitar, learning the songs of Joan Baez and Woody Guthrie. Eventually with his friend Lenny, they played at Italian parties and weddings with plans to later travel through Europe. But their plans were short-lived as the Vietnam War was on and K.D.'s number came up. He was drafted and served 4 years in the U.S. Coast Guard doing SAR (search and rescue) and ATON (aids to navigation).

After the service he married the love of his life, Janet, who helped him gain an appreciation of classical literature and he helped her gain an appreciation of classical music. Despite all his education, many are surprised to learn that K.D. hadn't started to learn to read until the fourth grade, and hadn't read a full novel until he was in high school. His first favorite writers were Robert E. Howard, H. P. Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury, and Jules Verne, which is where his love of science fiction and horror began. With his Veterans benefits he went to college and got a B.A. in Philosophy from Azusa Pacific University, an M.A. in Philosophy of Religion from Denver Seminary, and finished his graduate studies in Philosophy at Syracuse University. It was during his college years that he began writing. He completed his first short story "The Chairs" in 1984.

In 1989 K.D. and family moved to Bainbridge Island, WA where he got a job washing dishes at the Streamliner Diner, joined a local writers group, and started his first novel titled "Creatures of the Heart." (He worked at the diner until his wife told him he's no longer allowed to work outside the home; after that his writing output increased dramatically.) Since then he's finished eight novels, six sci-fi and two historical fiction.

"KillWare III: The Accidental Prisoner" - 3rd of "The KillWare Chronicles" is now available as of December 2013 (killware.com), completing the KillWare Trilogy: "KillWare" & "KillWare II: The Wastes." "Plagueman" (plagueman.com), his fourth historical fiction novel, was released in December 2005 through ArcheBooks.ccom. All previously published books have been reissued in trade paperback and on Kindle. K.D. is now working on the fourth book of "The KillWare Chronicles" Trilogy: "Suicide By Natural Causes." (Coming soon to a dump near you.)