PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND - The late Donald E. McKenzie grew up in Mendocino County near Hopland, where the story takes place. He graduated from Foothill College, Los Altos, California with an Associate of Arts degree, and Humboldt State University, Arcata, California with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater, followed by a Masters of Arts in Theater. He worked KGO Television in San Francisco cutting the news stories; most notably the Patty Hearst saga and the videos he cut hit the major ABC News Outlets and affiliate stations across the United States. Soon he moved to Pasadena, and then Venice Beach, where he was a general crewmember on Motion Pictures in Hollywood, 1st & 2nd Assistant Director and worked as a news editor at various stations. He then landed a job as Senior Video Editor of Entertainment Tonight, Paramount Studios, Hollywood, California starting with the shows premier in 1981. He worked with Dixie Whatley, Mary Hart and Leonard Maltin, and others and spent over four years on the show. During this period, he was studying Japanese under the guidance of Saho Lucas. Don then relocated to Japan where he became fairly fluent in Japanese. He traveled frequently to Hong Kong working as freelance Film/Video Writer/Director/Editor in Hong Kong and Tokyo, Japan. Later in life, Don was Owner and Operator of Lincoln City Books and Newport Books on the Oregon Coast in Newport and Lincoln City.
