The author of Permanent Seat is a college graduate of two Texas schools. At one he failed French twice but wouldn't give up, scheduling and passing it the third time before getting a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in government. At the other school, a university law school, he managed to pass everything and got his degree to practice law, cum laude. He also passed the bar (on first try), practiced law in Dallas, and became an Assistant Attorney General of Texas. In between all that he taught high school and became the father of two boys and a girl. Now he writes books and lives with his wife, their mother, in Austin.