Daniel Springer

Daniel Springer is the author of the novel, THE WILCO PROJECT, a best selling mystery/thriller published bu Solstice Publishing. Born in Ohio in 1964, he spent his first twelve years growing up in the small town of Galion where his life was like a perfect 1960s era TV show with summer swimming lessons at the town pool, Fourth of July fireworks, Little League baseball, Friday night high school football, trick-or-treating all over the town, sledding at the reservoir, caroling with the church youth group, visiting Santa at the town square which was always decked out with dazzling lights and holiday ornaments. The son of a high school teacher, each summer included extended tent-camping trips across the country visiting the country's national parks and historic sites. By the time he was thirteen, Daniel had visited each of the 48 continental states, all by car.

In 1977, his family moved to the Tampa, Florida area and Daniel, taking after his older brother, became interested in computers. While in high school, the family purchased one of the first color personal computers and Daniel and his brother began learning how to program. Daniel graduated with honors from Brandon High School and enrolled at the University of Tampa. In 1986 he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Management Information Systems. He became a programmer, systems analyst, systems engineer, and then sales representative for major computer companies such as Digital Equipment Corporation, Tandem Computers, and Sun Microsystems.

Daniel had always loved reading and writing. In college, he joined the student newspaper and a reporter and ultimately became the news editor. Just like most everyone on the planet, he always thought that one day he would write the great American novel. A few times he would scratch out a few pages of a story, but never completed anything. Then, in 2001 Daniel was hit by a car while riding his bicycle. Fortunately he was wearing a helmet and did not sustain significant injuries. The accident did, however, subtly change his outlook on life--life is precious and short and we have not control over when it will end--and would serve as a catalyst a few years later when he came up with "the big idea."

In the summer of 2004, Daniel and his high school friend were sitting on the back porch discussing the future and life in general when "the big idea" first surfaced. Daniel told his friend about his concept of writing a novel (and screenplay) about a cell phone game and also developing the actual cell phone game. He called it the triple play--a book, a movie and a game. By Thanksgiving he had completed the first draft of the manuscript called THE WILCO PROJECT.

THE WILCO PROJECT won "Honorable Mention" in the 2005 Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Awards in the "Unpublished Novel" category. The book was also selected as a "Semifinalist" in the 2008 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. In June of 2010, Daniel signed a contract with Solstice Publishing and THE WILCO PROJECT was released in both eBook and print versions on Oct. 31, 2010.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY issued the following review of the book:

"THE WILCO PROJECT combines murder mystery with elements of a technological thriller, blending the genres in a deftly written manuscript. The author provides a gripping opening with a female college student murdered while playing a mysterious campus-wide game in the woods. Readers are soon introduced to the rest of the cast of characters: Dr Steven Archer, former Internet entrepreneur turned professor, who leads a team of young computer programmers in the creation of the ultimate cell phone game; Bobbi, a school reporter, determined to find out the truth about the murder, even if it means putting her own life in jeopardy; Jonathan Holden, creator of the game and all around cad; Patricia, the angry assistant on the team who is sleeping with the head of the wireless company, Larry Hershman; and finally, Peter, a techno-geek who is invisible. After Archer discovers that the dead girl is Jonathan's ex-fiance, he realizes that the The Wilco Project is a game of hide-and-seek, in which players use the phone to locate and destroy enemies. As Archer finds himself investigating the first murder and a subsequent one, he is led down one path after another. While this plot is a new take on an old thriller genre, the author delivers a well-executed thriller."

Daniel Springer lives near Tampa, Florida with his wife of twenty-three years, their two children, and dog, Lexi. He enjoys golf, skiing, music and playing video games with his kids.