James M Thompson, MD, was born and grew up in Houston, Texas. He attended Tulane University on a baseball scholarship, graduated from University of Texas in 1967 and then got his MD degree from Baylor College of Medicine in 1971. Practiced medicine in Corpus Christi, Tx for thirty years and began writing in 1995. Was a ghost writer for another famous writer and wrote 25 books under his name before publishing his first book under his own name, Riding for the Brand. He now splits his time between Ruidoso, New Mexico and North Bridgton, Maine. He lives with his wife Terri and four wonderful terriers. Their six male children are all grown and live in Texas and Arkansas.