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click here for Book Purchasing OptionsMEET Bill Hellman
I have always had a passion for writing but like so many things in life priorities trump passions. When I finally made time for writing I discovered a knack for story telling through the written word. My first effort was a monthly for a local fishing magazine. My love of offshore fishing and boating activities fed my imagination and I enjoyed immediate acceptance in that world.
Like so many I always talked of writing a novel and while there were a few false starts it finally came to fruition. My most ardent supporter when it comes to writing has always been my wife Sali Gear. Her incredible life served as the inspiration for Havana Deception and throughout the effort she was the perfect sounding board and a tremendous source of inspiration.
By all accounts I have led a blessed life. There have been bumps in the road and minor disappointments along the way but for the most part it has been pretty smooth sailing.
My closest friends and peers are like me… adventure seekers who rarely if ever take the easy path. I hope readers find my writing inspiring whether it’s through my fiction or my thoughts on world issues.
About W.B. Hellman
Born in Great Falls Montana in 1958, Bill Hellman has lived a life most only read about in fiction. Immediately after graduating from Lincoln High School in Tacoma Washington he joined the Navy where he attended BUD/S, Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training as part of Class 92 and by mid 1977 he was stationed at Underwater Demolition Team 21 in Norfolk Virginia.
Over the next 24 years he would be assigned to a variety of SEAL billets that included operating the SEAL Delivery Vehicle, BUD/S Instructor and duty at SEAL Team 6 where he was decorated for valor while deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm. While many fiction writers rely on research and interviews to flesh out their characters Bill Hellman gets his inspiration from his own life of adventure.
After a successful career in SEAL Team he joined a Defense Contracting company that specialized in the manufacture of a small combat submersible that is used by Special Forces around the world. In that job he has trained Combat Divers in more than 43 countries while relying heavily on the skills he acquired as a SEAL operator.
Since 1976 Bill Hellman has logged more that 7000 hours underwater, he has made over 1500 skydives, acquired 1200 hours as an Instrument Rated private pilot. He has sailed and fished on the oceans of the world and he has skied at some of the most famous mountain resorts in Europe and North America.
Accomplishments
His greatest accomplishments have always involved the sea. He is highly regarded as an expert in combat craft operations and he can often be found sailing offshore where he routinely solo sails his 47 foot Beneteau. In his lifetime Bill Hellman has been married three times. His first wife Nannette Boyd whom he met in High School served in the Navy in Military Law Enforcement. His second wife and the mother of his only child Christine Quedens is quite famous in her own right.
She was a member of the first US Coast Guard Academy class to allow women and during her storied career she commanded patrol boats and sailed the world on the USCG Cutter Eagle. Since 1999 he has been with his current wife Sali Gear. Together they have raised her three sons and provided a home to countless dogs and horses. The women in his life have added immensely to his life story and they continue to be assets to his writing. In addition to writing fiction Bill Hellman has written a monthly for a local fishing magazine and political commentary.
Bill Hellman’s writing, plot development and characters come from years of world travel, adventure and interaction with some of the greatest warriors in modern times. He has seen first hand all the beauty the world has to offer and the unavoidable dangers faced by so many in these troubled times. Through it all he has maintained his love of life on the edge, humor and a deep appreciation for the path he has been fortunate enough to follow.
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We love sharing through our writing but Sali has always been the real hero in this journey. We look forward to hearing from fans of our fantastic heroine, Rawley West, and please… if you like the story, pass it on to your friends and family!