As a graduate of Bennington College in 1983, Doug was there alongside Brett Easton Ellis, Donna Tartt and Jonathan Lethem. While those three were busy reading the Greeks and pounding away on their novels, Doug, a middle class Army brat, studied Marxian Economics instead.
Doug has been a professional writer and editor since 1984, largely working for computer publications such as ComputerWorld, InfoWorld, and four computer magazines he founded himself, including Redmond Magazine.