Robert Isham Auler lives in Champaign, Illinois.  He has spent the last 40 years in court representing people with problems. There were bumps and bruises in his career, but there were more high points and giant-slayings.  Along the way, he accumulated many stories, most of them too improbable for fiction. 

Being a lawyer enhanced his fear of “the system.”  Along with high-mindedness and idealism, he has seen incompetence, indolence and cronyism.  All too often, cavalier disregard for the Constitution and even basic fairness, seep through the decisions of judges chosen by political hacks from the ranks of former prosecutors.

For many years Auler has wanted to let readers see through his eyes and tap into his insights.  He began writing fiction in the midst of a divorce in the '90s.  This is his first published novel.

He has written jazz criticism, sports coverage, and has appeared in broadcast media including Larry King Live; 20/20; 48 Hours; CBS Overnight; NBC Nightly News; CBS Evening News; ABC College Game of the Week ; ESPN; PBS.

Auler grew up a middle class family in the rust-belt town of Oglesby, Il and worked in a cement mill and a chemical factory to help with college expenses. He has been a blaster’s assistant in a quarry, a mega-truck driver, and a kiln room laborer. He was also awarded Phi Beta Kappa and High Distinction in Philosophy from the University of Illinois in 1962, and graduated from its College of Law in 1965. 

He then worked briefly as a prosecutor, but first asked to be locked in a cell very briefly before beginning to suggest sentences to the court.  Since 1968, he has handled civil and criminal cases ranging from injury to malpractice (including cases against lawyers), to murder and lesser misdeeds.  His practice has involved representing many coaches and athletes.

His three accomplished adult children seem to like him a lot.