For nearly thirty years, John Conery has practiced law in the legal departments of some of the world's largest oil and gas services companies. His professional experiences provided a rich background for the development of the characters, plot lines, and writing style in his debut novel, Project Azalea. J.E. attended Loyola University New Orleans, where he earned his B.A. in philosophy and his J.D. in civil law. A native son of Louisiana, he has lived in Houston, Texas, for twenty-five years with his wife and editor-in-chief, Eileen. They have two amazing children: Ian, a college sophomore who provided content review, and Claire, a high school senior who influenced the cover design and created the interior artwork. Project Azalea truly has been a family endeavor.