Ed Mitchell is a former Army officer, rocket scientist, and management consultant writing among the oaks in Monterey County, California, at least when the cat is not invading his lap. Ed spent over fourteen years crafting the Gold Lust series. Gold Rush 200--the first thriller of the series--was selected as the first ?non-Steinbeck? novel accepted into the National Steinbeck Center Resource Library, followed by receiving regional recognition for Best Mystery Thriller and National recognition for BEST NEW FICTION from a small press in the USA and Canada. Gold Raid is the stand alone sequel to Gold Rush 2000. Shocked by what happens to an author after they are published, Ed began a news letter describing the behind the scenes marketing struggles every author, suddenly faces upon being published. Ed?s news letter shares the humor of doing a public reading with fruit flies attacking his nose, doing a radio show kneeling on the floor, having his car interior flooded with water while attending a book convention, and other fun surprises. Fans can sign up for Ed?s news letter at http://www.booksbymitchell.

com Ed experienced life's challenges and honed his writing skills as he progressed through the following life/career events: --Latch-key child sent to Juvenile Hall, later a foster child on welfare, living on a dairy farm. --West Point graduate, Army Airborne Ranger Infantryman; served overseas in Alaska and Korea. -- RAND Fellow at the RAND Corporation. The historical text he authored, on Army use of space systems, was later used as a resource text at the Command & General Staff College. --Graduate from the Defense Department's Program Management school, performed program management within the "Star Wars" program. --Served in the U.S. Space Command before and during Desert Shield.

--Aerospace Engineer/Manager supporting launches of National Missile Defense interceptors. --Amateur prospector & member Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA). Additional information available at web site: http://www.booksbymitchell.com.