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The modest neighborhood in Oakland, California buzzed with excitement that summer of 1955. Why was the FBI asking questions about 16 year old George Bancroft? They had all been warned not to discuss the interview with anyone else, but the neighbors couldn’t help wondering out loud what the boy had done. It must be something big for the feds to be involved, right? Not really. As it happened George had taken a civil service exam that June and had passed high enough to qualify for a pipefitter apprenticeship at the Naval Air Station in Alameda. The job required that George be able to go anywhere on the base, and for that he needed a “Top Secret” security clearance. Therefore, the FBI did a background check.
In May of the following year George joined the California National Guard. With his security clearance, George could easily qualify for duty in Army Intelligence - G2. But George had other ideas, he loved mechanics and wanted to work on big trucks so he opted for the motor pool. But what if George had gone into G2? What kind of military life would he have had. That question has come back to haunt him down the years, so he started spinning the “what ifs” and came up with Ron Harrison inHangman’s Awakening. “Do what you know” is the battle cry of writing instructors. And, that's just what George does.
He joined the world of computers and high tech electronics in 1962 and has been deep in it ever since. For the past 20+ years George has written technical manuals for computer products, cable and satellite TV equipment, IBM’s cellphone ASIC chips. But today he is retired from the high tech world and he does what he loves. He has made the transition from the mundane world of documenting what is exactly, to the challenging world of what might be - with no limits. 5th Millennium, Ancient Cities and Hangman’s Awakening are George’s first steps in this new world of lies and deceit where nothing is true or real. That, of course, is what fiction is - made up stories - sometimes called lies. He’s found its far more fun than the boring truth about what circuit does what when building a cellphone or any of the other truths found in the 11,000+ pages of technical documentation he’s written.
This may be the new hobby George is looking for since he gave up TaeKwonDo in 1998. After a hard kick to the ribs, he found he just didn’t heal like he did thirty years ago. It was time to admit there were things he couldn’t do - like spar with 20 and 30 years olds - three times a week. So now he does it in his mind - much better for the ole body.
George lives in North San Diego county with his wife and they enjoy visits from their three grown children and two grandchildren.
You can see his books on www.lulu.com. Search on George Bancroft