J. Alan Childs

J. Alan Childs grew up in Southern California where he developed a passion for sports and storytelling. In 1992, he and his wife moved their family to Minnesota, where the "State of Hockey" inspired their five kids to lace up not just skates, but cleats too, becoming founding members of the local Burnsville lacrosse community.

That family-first spirit runs deep in Alan’s work. His Flamethrowers lacrosse fiction series began in 2007 as a comic book drawn by his youngest son, Brody. Alan brought it to life in novel form, blending sports action with big-hearted adventure. His nonfiction title Minnesota Lacrosse: A History was born from a real headline and tells the surprising story of how America’s oldest team sport took root in the Midwest.

Alan also wrote the children’s picture book Flamethrower Stories – Can I Play? for his grandchildren. A joyful introduction to lacrosse through the eyes of a young child eager to join the game.

Now, Alan turns his focus to the rink with his newest book, A Genetic Power Play, a hockey-based thriller that explores the future of sport, identity, and what it means to earn your place on the ice. It’s a fast-paced, high-stakes read for fans of hockey, science fiction, and underdog stories with a twist.

Alan has been married for 40 years and lives in the Twin Cities with his wife. They have five grown children and eight grandchildren, seven granddaughters and one lucky grandson. They also share their home with two dogs: Zeus, a laid-back Saint Bernard who thinks he’s a lapdog, and Monster, a black-and-white wiener dog with a big attitude and a bark that’s louder than his legs are long.