I’m Daniel Kiewel, though those who know me best call me D.J., so that’s how I’ll introduce myself, so….HI, I’M D.J,! I’ve always believed everyone has a story worth telling, and this is an introduction to my story.

I am a freelance writer, with very few subjects and projects I won’t tackle. I believe reading and writing are among the most valuable treasures in this world. My craft is pursued with the mission to help make those accessible to all, young and old. As such, I will always seek to uplift, enrich, and engage readers in thought with my work here.

I am many things, but the most importantly, I’m a follower of Christ, husband, father, brother, son and an educator. My family is my village as well as my most ardent supporters through thick and thin - my wife, Staci; my daughter, Makenzie; my parents, Jim and Karin; and, my sisters, Beth and Diana and their respective tribes! These are the people who’ve been there through it all, supporting all my “bananas” dreams and ideas. And, as a writer with a life of ADHD, the crazy ideas have, indeed, been many!

One thing I have always been is an avid writer. At a young age, that led me to pursue a degree in Journalism from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. With that degree, for the better part of 15 years, I worked in several capacities as a professional journalist and newspaper graphic artist. But, as you will discover with most of my “brainstorms,” having a daughter inspired perhaps the most drastic change I ever made.

In the summer of 2022, at the age of 42, I made the seismic decision to pursue a new career - in elementary education! Since that time, I returned to school at Fort Hays State University to pursue an elementary teaching license in my now home state of Kansas. Working with young people in an educational setting has had a profound influence on my life - and on my writing. You’ll often see that passion for education reflected here now in my writing.

I grew up in suburban Denver before relocating to rural Kansas, which I’ve called home now for close to 25 years. My roots in both places have influenced a passion for the history of the American west, and more recently, a deepening zeal for history in general. I’m a firm believer that the understanding the past shapes how we approach the present and the future, so you’ll see history as a running theme through much of my freelance work.

In fact, you’ll see many subjects reflected in my writing. My creative influences range from Arthur Conan Doyle, to John Grisham, to MythBusters alum Adam Savage, to the Savannah Bananas baseball team. Needless to say, I will not only try to think outside the box, I will probably try to turn that box into three-bedroom house, creatively speaking.

I have a cornoucopia of interests, all of which will likely find their way into my work. I love sports, history, engineering, the arts, building, kitchy nostalgia, classic cars, music…it goes on and on! Needless to say, I’m an expert in nothing but passionate about many, many subjects!

Safe to say, I will always challenge the status-quo. My least favorite statement in the world is “That’s just the way it is!” If there’s an established way of doing things, I will almost always find a way to do it differently. That’s part of why this site exists. Because I want to approach writing in a brand new way, accessible to all.

Charles Dickens, another literary influence of mine, originally released his novel, Oliver Twist, as a monthly serial. After many years of trying in vain to write a novel in one shot, this recent discovery changed my approach to that. Eventually, serial novels will begin to appear on this site. That revelation was, indeed, the genesis for this site!

The primary truth you will always see reflected here is this - I believe everyone in this world, no matter their station of life, has a story that is worth telling. The planet is home to almost eight billion uniquely created humans, all with their own varied passions, hopes, dreams, fears and adversities. As a journalist, I was privileged to tell many of these stories in my little corner of the world, and I hope to tell more of those here, as well!