1947, Dec. 8 Born, Omaha, NE. 1966-1970 Attended Creighton University and received Bachelors on English Degree. 1972-74 Attended University of Iowa and received M.F.A in Creative Writing During this time, worked for John Irving 1977-1978 Spent time at Stanford University for the Wallace Stegner Writing Fellowship 1979 Published first novel, Desperadoes, with Alfred A. Knopf 1979-1994 Acted as visiting Professor to various colleges; including but not limited to; Instituto Allende (Mexico), Stanford University, University of Michigan, Cornell University… 1983 Published second novel, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, with Alfred A. Knopf 1987 Published children’s story The Shadowmaker with Harper&Row Published/edited You Don’t Know What Love Is: Contemporary American Stories with the Ontario Review Press Distinguished Writer-In-Residence at Wichita State University 1989 Published Nebraska with Atlantic Monthly Press 1991 Published Mariette in Ecstasy with HarperCollins 1996 Published Atticus with HarperCollins Began work at Santa Clara University as Gerard Manley Hopkins Professor in the Arts and Humanities Married to Bo Caudwell on July 4th 1999 Published Hitler’s Niece with HarperCollins 2001 Published A Stay Against Confusion: Essays on Faith and Fiction with HarperCollins 2003 Published Isn’t It Romantic with HarperCollins 2007 Ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of San Jose 2008 Published Exiles with Farrar, Straus & Giroux