James Alwyn Austin

I was born and raised in Palo Alto, CA. Palo Alto has remained a "bedroom" community, but the rest of Santa Clara County transformed from being a fertile, fruit and vegetable growing region into what today is known as "Silicon Valley."

I was born in 1952 so I got to watch and witness the transformation as the orchards were bulldozed and buildings were erected. El Camino Real changed too. It had been laden with fruit and vegetable stands, especially in the vicinity of the Libby's canning plant. One fruit stand remains, and it still bears the sir name of Old man Cala, who owned quite a few acres of the valley back then.

I attended High School at Paly and Junior College at Foothill. But then, I joined the Navy.

When I had served my six years in the nuclear submarine force, I returned in 1980 to our home on Channing Ave. Then my parents parlayed their 1946, 1400 square foot, 3 bedroom, 1 bath, 1 car garage residence in Palo Alto, into a brand new 3000 square foot, 3 car garage home in San Jose's east hills above the Eastridge Mall.

I moved out and became an engineer in the esoteric field of Diamond-Turning and Flycutting. Changes in jobs brought me to Lompoc, CA from 1997 to 1999. This is where God got hold of me and I received Jesus Christ as my Savior. He prompted me to write the book in late 2011. It was published in January of 2015.