Dennis F. Larsen was born in a small, northern Utah city just about the time that US boots were put on the ground in Southeast Asia. He was raised in a modest home; his mother, who initially worked at Hill Air Force Base, left the work force to devote her time to her four sons, and a father, who ran a small local Conoco Station. In his younger years, he dreamed of playing major league baseball and enjoyed watching Sandy Koufax, Willey Mays and other great stars of the day. Summer months and after-school time was dedicated to hour upon hour of 'tennis-ball', the brother's own brand of baseball. Tennis balls ricocheted off of neighbor’s homes with less grumbling from the inhabitants. The neighborhood was their playground; football field in the front yard, tennis-ball stadiums on both sides and in the back, the backyard doubling as a golfer’s driving range as well. Nothing was off limits as the young boys turned the entire block into a 9-hole golf course, complete with greens mowed into the neighbor’s lawns. Permission? Who needs permission? Dennis loved the time of his youth and the bonds that were forged on the local ball diamonds and in the small and quiet places of his youth. He survived untold and uncounted episodes of pink-belly, supremous-superbous-droppous, and other unimaginable tortures, from his brothers and older boys of the block, just to be included. His brothers and the kids from the old neighborhood are still important players in his life. (If you aren't familiar with the above techniques, write me.) He attended the schools of Box Elder County graduating from high school in 1977. He went on to Brigham Young University, Utah State University and ultimately Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon where he obtained a Doctorate Degree in Optometry. Along the way he married a beautiful, little blonde, Holly, in 1981 and had four amazing and talented children that inspire him each and every day. His children now grown and mostly on their own have blessed his life with four fun and energetic grandchildren, with another new addition expected in the summer of 2013. Dr. Larsen took a position with his brother Steve, also an optometrist, when he completed school and the two practiced together in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada until 1997 when Dennis established his own business and Optometric Partnership Practice. He has worked for 26 years in a profession that he loves but has always had a desire to write and thus began the adventure. His children, all gifted with the ability to write, propelled Dr. Larsen into his computer chair and put his fingers to work creating his first characters and putting them to work. 'With Cruel Intent' began as a short story to prove to his wife that he could write a story that a woman would find romantic. Much coaching was needed from her at the beginning. Apparently sexy and romantic are not synonyms. The story took on an energy and personality that had to get out, and the twists and turns just kept popping up in his head until the manuscript was completed. He ultimately wanted to prove to himself and his children that you can accomplish anything that you pour your heart and soul into. His greatest wish, beyond having a healthy, happy family, is to have a shelf in his home with a novel located upon it from each of his children. Follow the blog to learn more about the writing of his first novel, 'With Cruel Intent'.