Ben Alirez was born in Southern California and grew up on the tough streets of East Los Angeles and La Puente, California. Attending public schools, he went on to attend Rio Hondo College and Mt. San Antonio College. Once out of high school, Ben also joined the working force, laboring as a stock-boy, factory worker, assistant bookkeeper, and utility man. He also participated in the sport of amateur boxing for a brief time. It was while attending college that Ben encountered a fellow student in racquetball class. To his great surprise, the spirited young woman nearly beat him, an encounter that so shook him, he was prompted to get to know her better—something he has been doing ever since! The two of them married a few years later and are now in their 23rd year. His wife Carolina and he have two wonderful sons—Nicholas, 20, and Eric, 16. Ben’s interest in writing began when a co-worker declared that he had missed his calling. Her revelation came after she had just finished reading the first business document he penned. Since that time, Ben has challenged himself to learn more about writing, taking business-writing courses through his workplace and endless hours of self-study. “Brothers in Arms” was Ben’s first attempt at a novel, and it is stories that deliver positive messages of hope and redemption that interest him the most. Such an ability to write is something Ben attributes to his strong personal faith in God. For over twenty years, Ben has been employed with a company in California where he works as an office manager. Outside of work he continues to be involved in various writing projects.