Chris Stevenson spent his childhood in a small town in rural Indiana. Throughout high school, college, and then law school, he thought history was boring, nothing but a bunch of dates to memorize in order to pass a test. Not until later in life did he find the joy of history. Chris began reading or listening to almost every nonfiction book he could find on the Revolution. Characters such as Washington, Knox, Greene, Lee, Arnold, and many more came to life. Stevenson learned why Washington crossed the Delaware, instead of just when he crossed. With five boys at home, likely doomed to repeat their father’s same disdain for memorizing historical dates, Stevenson set out to convey these amazing Revolutionary characters, and their ability to take on the world’s most powerful empire, in the form of a middle-grade historical fiction book. Armed with his knowledge of the period and the writing skills acquired from his legal profession, Stevenson wrote The Drum of Destiny and now Cannon on Courage.
Stevenson’s own destiny has taken him all over the map, literally. After graduating from Purdue University’s flight program, Chris went to work for a cargo company flying Boeing 727s all over North America. Next came law school at Indiana University, where writing became central to Stevenson’s life. Chris now practices law in Indianapolis when he’s not writing Gabriel Cooper books.
