October 26th, 2026
Hey, kids. It’s been a minute since I’ve sat down and explained my life Clarissa-style, so I would like to reintroduce myself.
My name is Dennis and I tell stories.
I was born in Minneapolis (big city) and moved to Faribault (small town) in the third grade, where I graduated from high school before moving to Burnsville (just right).
I was drama club president senior year and that’s a part of my story.
My whole life, I’ve been writing and drawing and acting and playing music. I wanted to be Walt Disney when I grew up; I hadn’t considered what would happen if I just never grew up.
I got my first restaurant job as a teenager and have been in the hospitality industry ever since. I have most likely waited on you or someone you know.
My feelings on the importance of service, community, and human connection have only grown deeper and stronger over time; this work is a part of my story.
I focused on music in my teens and early twenties as The Next Step, releasing three full-length albums and playing countless unforgettable shows. That part of my story changed; my creativity took me in a different direction, even though I still love music and make it to this day.
In 2013, I published Them, my first book. Since then, telling stories has been the biggest part of my story.
Most know me now as an author who has published 14 books as of 2026: fiction in varied genres, nonfiction, and graphic novels. I write, edit, format, design, market, promote, and sell each book myself (and create the art for the graphic novels).
In 2017, at the age of 32, I got sober and I’m grateful to say it’s stuck so far. In 2020, my mom died after a single month of facing cancer. A lot of my writing has dealt with addiction and recovery, loss and grief, and joy, humor, and hope.
At 19, I began my college career and quit before I turned 20; at 39, I went back and graduated with my degree in Graphic Design Technology in the spring of 2026, at the ripe age of 41.
I consider myself a Zen Buddhist and am currently getting certified to teach mindfulness meditation. I’m an agnostic and my spiritual curiosity has always been part of my story; for example, I’m not a Christian but I think Jesus is dope af.
It’s hard to distill your life like this, so here are some random facts: my favorite color is blue, I love animals (especially squirrels), I’m a comic book (and pop culture) nerd, I’m obsessed with nostalgia, I’m politically independent, I swear a lot but somehow managed not to swear in the writing of this post.
I have three exceptional younger sisters, two deaf parents (well, one, but you know why), my wonderful partner and I have one stellar son and the best dog who has ever existed, a Boston Terrier named Marvel (who inspired my book, Theia).
I really just believe in being kind and learning from our mistakes and trying, forever, to understand one another.
I don’t know why you’re here, but I’m happy to have you. Feel free to scroll, read, agree, argue, comment, and reach out. (I’m also job searching so please say hello if you’re looking for someone like me!) Right now I’m working on the next chapter of my story, and I am so grateful to any- and everyone who has read it so far.
