John Soennichsen has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oregon and a master of fine arts degree from Eastern Washington University. He is a freelance writer with more than 200 articles, essays, and short fiction to his credit. His first book, LIVE! FROM DEATH VALLEY, was hailed by Publishers Weekly as "Eloquently written, Soennichsen's book is a triumph of reportage reminiscent of [John] McPhee." Soennichsen is a member of the Ice Age Floods Institute and lives just outside the eastern Washington town of Cheney, along the rim of a prominent Scabland channel.