Dirk grew up in a minister’s family, watching each week as Chris, his father, shaped what he believed was a divinely inspired message. The Lord never gave Chris all the details, just the basic “message” and it was dad’s job to craft that gospel into a persuasive, engaging twenty minute homily—every week. Little wonder Dirk has a life-long fascination with words and their power. Both of Dirk’s sisters are published authors.
Dirk was an actor throughout high school, much of college and one season of summer stock. Trained as a choral music teacher, he taught in public schools for several years after earning his MS Music degree at the University of Illinois.
While earning his livelihood trading for his own account on the floor of the Chicago Boar
