I was born and raised in New York City. I spent over three decades as a criminal defense lawyer in San Francisco. Before I became a lawyer, I earned an MA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. These days I split my time between Bangkok, Thailand, and Tampa, Florida. I write short stories in several genres,some of which can be read on my blog, http://www.stephenshaiken.com/, listed below. I have written three novels in the NJA Series, featuring American expat lawyer Glenn Murray Cohen: Bangkok Shadows, Bangkok Whispers, and Bangkok Blues, all available on Amazon as an E book or in paperback. I describe the novels as "exotic noir thrillers." A fourth book in the series will be released early next year. I just released Queensborough Rock inNovember, 2022. It's genre is historical fiction, but the soul is rock 'n' roll. It’s set in 1971. Young Jack Bernstein is a struggling rock ’n’ roll manager in New York City. Instead of a fancy office in Manhattan, a flashy car and backstage passes, he operates out of a basement apartment in working-class Queens, driving a cranky eight-year-old Volvo as he trolls third-string venues for hidden talent. Jack finances a demo tape for his top talent by borrowing from a loanshark and pawning a friend’s guitar. When the tape fails to land a deal, Jack’s last hope is an offer from a friendly Queens mobster. New York City in the late sixties and early seventies comes alive with all its intensity.