William Oakes grew up in a small town in Central Indiana, the son of a plumber and a devoted housewife. While completing his degree at Purdue University, he married his high school sweetheart, Fran. Together, they raised three sons and now enjoy life with three daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren.

William spent a decade in journalism, beginning as a broadcast reporter and later working as a newspaper reporter and political columnist. During that time, he participated in investigative reporting projects and covered crime, courts, government, and politics at both the local and state levels. His later work in public relations and marketing further broadened his perspective. After retiring, William returned to his lifelong passion for journalism and creative writing, channeling his experience into fiction. Chasing Evil is his debut novel, and, he insists, only the beginning.