Jim Stempel lives with his family in Western Maryland overlooking the Blue Ridge. His wife, Sandie, is on staff at nearby McDaniel College where she teaches astronomy and physics. His three children-a daughter and two sons-have moved on to professional careers. An avid athlete for most of his life, Jim is also the author of seven books ranging from satire, psychology, spirituality, to scholarly works of historical nonfiction. He is a graduate of the Citadel, Charleston, S.C. Jim is considered an authority on the Eastern campaigns of the American Civil War. His recent book, The Nature of War: Origins and Evolution of Violent Conflict has been well received by an international audience for its willingness to delve into the basic motivations of human warfare and the true prospects for peace those motivations suggest. His novel Albemarle was nominated for the James Fenimore Cooper Prize in Historical Fiction.