Jimmie Aaron Kepler is a writer of Christian non-fiction, fiction, award winning short story writer, and poet.

Military Brat

Jim grew up in a career military family. In his youth, he worked in a grocery store, warehouse, a folk-rock band as a rhythm guitar player, vendor at a major league baseball stadium, and for a milk distributor. He graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with minors in English and military science.

United States Army Officer

Upon graduation from university in 1975, Jim received a commission as a second lieutenant, Infantry in the United States Army through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. The United States Army selected him for active duty. He served three years of active duty. Jim then served four years in the United States Army Reserves.

While on active duty, he graduated from the Infantry Officer Basic Leadership Course, Airborne School, Platoon Leader Maintenance Management Course, and The Army Maintenance Management Course. On active duty, he served as an infantry rifle platoon leader, weapons platoon leader (81 mm mortars and T.O.W. missiles), battalion maintenance officer, and ordnance maintenance platoon leader, and an ordnance maintenance control “shop” officer.

After two years of active duty, his military branch changed from Infantry to Ordnance Corps where he continued serving on active duty for another year before heading to graduate school full-time. He received an honorable discharge as a Captain, Ordnance Corps in1982.

Religious Educator

Following US Army active duty, he went to graduate school completing a Master of Religious Education and Master of Arts degrees. During graduate school, he worked as a custodian, painter, educator, and as a route auditor for a soft drink distributor.

He worked as a minister of Christian education, Christian school principal, and associate pastor for sixteen years before transitioning to the computer science field. He also completed a Doctor of Education degree in educational administration.

Information Technology Pro

Jim went back to college, studying computer science in the 1990s. He completed the core curriculum for a computer science degree and earned induction in for Phi Theta Kappa for his academic excellence.

Jim was an information technology systems administrator and application support engineer specializing in Salesforce and data integrity (market analytics and business intelligence) for a Fortune 500 privately held company before transitioning to writing full time.

Author & Poet

Jim sold his first magazine article over 45 years ago. He has sold nonfiction, inspirational,  how-to magazine articles, including getting three covers and short stories in the science fiction and horror genre. He is the author of the nonfiction book Prayers for the Chronically Ill: 60 Prayers, Caregiving: Biblical Insights From a Caregiver’s Journey. His novels include Miss Sarah’s Secret, The Rebuilder, Charlie’s Bells, and Gone Electric: A Poetry Collection. He likewise writes literary fiction under a penname. The books are available on Amazon, Apple Book, Kobo, Barnes & Noble Nook, and major online booksellers and libraries worldwide.

He Has Lived in Eleven States

Born in Texas, Jim has lived in Ohio, Illinois, South Carolina, Arizona, New Hampshire, Kansas, Georgia, Louisiana, California, Washington, and Texas, where he lives in suburban Dallas. Reading military history, science fiction, poetry, and listening to podcasts while walking are his daily activities. He is a widower. His bride of 43 years died of Melanoma cancer in April 2018. He has three grown children, one granddaughter, and a cat.