THE AUTHOR

Tom grew up an army brat who lived a nomadic childhood, but always saw Columbus, Kansas, as an anchor in his wandering life. It was his parents' hometown and it became his de facto one. He lived there briefly in his childhood and the family constantly went back to Columbus for holidays and vacations. Over these visits his maternal grandfather, Ned Aitchison, became a larger than life figure to him.

He was the breathing incarnation of everything a child imagines a grandfather should be: He managed a wholesale toy store; he owned a circus museum; he knew old B-Western movie stars; he spent an inordinate amount of time fishing; he laughed at a hat’s drop and told really funny stories; his refrigerator never ran out of soda pop; and he was a judge of some sort to boot. It was like visiting a part-time adult and full-time Santa Claus .  - Tom Rhoads

Visits became more frequent after Tom enrolled in the University of Kansas where he managed to obtain a degree in journalism—a miracle he never fully understood, but nonetheless accepted. He then found himself to be considered an adult and adults should find work, which he did. Companies hired him to write—and later direct and produce—documentaries, special exhibitions, commercials, PSAs, corporate image pieces, training shows, and other non-theatrical productions; shows the American public may never have asked to see, but someone somewhere felt they should have and Tom was hired to make them. Many of these were done under his own corporate banner, Viewfinder Productions, and some won awards like the Cine Golden Eagle and Telly. Ned is Tom’s first novel, but more are planned. He now lives with his wife, Linda, in Rockville, Maryland. She is not from Columbus, but she is from Kansas.