About the AuthorDale Fetherling grew up in West Virginia, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the state university, and won a scholarship to Northwestern University, where he earned a master's degree in journalism. He served as a Navy officer aboard an amphibious ship during the Vietnam conflict. Along the way, he also worked as a baker's helper, a waiter, a handyman, and a ticket taker at a funhouse (where he also operated a toggle switch connected to an air hose that blew up the girl's dresses as they entered.) He reported for three major newspapers before becoming editor of a regional edition of The Los Angeles Times for 15 years. Since leaving newspapers, he's written or co-authored 15 books and edited many others. He lives in San Diego, where he sails, gardens, plays handball, meditates, and enjoys family, friends, and his Welsh corgi, Emmylou. what is the best selling book ever Getting to Angel Island: Stories