Mr. Fred E. Doepke

I was born and raised in Gould City, Michigan, a town of a few hundred residents in the Upper Peninsula. Our family was middle class. My father worked for 34 years as a depot agent for the Soo Line Railroad Company and my mother worked as a short order cook at my Uncle Phil’s restaurant. I attended Gould City Standard School for the first eight years of my education, then attended Engadine Consolidated High School before going on to Lake Superior State College in 1971. My two sisters and brother still reside in Gould City.

At LSSC, I immediately enrolled in the pre-med curriculum, Biological Science. Shortly into my junior year I became infatuated with SCUBA diving and decided to abandon my medical school ambitions and pursue a more exciting career as a marine biologist. Most oceanographic life is invertebrate, so that decision led me to the Michigan State University Masters program in Zoology. However, I soon learned that a successful scientific career in marine biology dictates a PhD degree. Since I wasn’t able to secure financial aid for advanced graduate studies, I found myself facing graduation without a practical job prospect. So I continued to work part-time as a bartender but was, frankly, floundering.

About that time I met my wife, Jolene, who was living near East Lansing in Brighton, Michigan. The week before our wedding I told her I had decided to return to MSU to pick up a degree in mechanical engineering. She gave me two years to do it, but for me that meant finishing up my Masters while simultaneously working on the second undergraduate degree. That was certainly a challenge!

After graduating in 1982, I accepted a position at the Naval Coastal Systems Center in Panama City, Florida. During the course of my 30-year career as a design engineer and technical manager I had the honor of working with some of the finest military personnel in the world, including the Navy SEAL teams. I also had the opportunity to hone my writing skills by preparing system specifications, statements of work, organizational charters and other scientific/engineering documentation required of my positions.

So, about my interests: I’m an organized guy who enjoys writing, interior design, book collecting and travel. Jolene and I have traveled to Great Britain, Russia, and several countries in Europe and Scandinavia, and have cruised extensively throughout the Caribbean. We are now focused on travel in North America and are continually planning trips. Our favorite place, though, remains Mackinac Island, the “Crown Jewel of Michigan”, which we visit yearly.

And about "Cold Time": Because I was successful in publishing a few short stories back in my LSSC days and because I enjoy writing, I decided to re-engage the craft several years prior to my retirement. I’ve always been a fan of science fiction, and since the 1960’s have enjoyed the work of authors such as Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury. My particular interest is time travel and I’ve accumulated a respectable collection of fiction and non-fiction books on the subject. "Cold Time" took me four years to write. It does, I think, provide a different perspective on time, one that may cause you to think differently about the past.

At any rate, I hope you enjoy the story!