Ken Coffman, author, entrepreneur and electrical engineer, lives with his wife (The Futile Voice of Reason) in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona. He was born in Medford, Oregon in 1953. In his decades of wandering the Earth, he’s been a berry picker, cat food factory worker, dish washer, Air Force Sergeant, rock-n-roll bass player, concert promoter, author, publisher, electrical engineer, engineering manager and music shop proprietor.

Background

• Born: 1953 in Medford, Oregon.
• Career: A multidisciplinary figure—Air Force veteran, electrical engineer, publisher, and novelist.
• Other roles: Founder/editor at Stairway Press and Faraday Press, supporting independent authors and technical innovators.
• Style: Blends technical precision with contrarian, satirical, and often darkly humorous storytelling.

Literary Career

Fiction

• The Glen Wilson Series (six books, 2005–2015) A mix of thriller, satire, and speculative fiction, following Glen Wilson through adventures that often lampoon politics, science, and culture.
  • Steel Waters
  • Alligator Alley
  • Twisted Shadow
  • Glen Wilson’s Bad Medicine
  • Toxic Shock Syndrome
  • Immortality, LLC

Standalone Novels

• Fairhaven (2011) – A literary novel with philosophical undertones.
• The Sandcastles of Irakkistan – War, politics, and satire.
• Buffoon: One Man’s Cheerful Interaction with the Harbingers of Global Warming – A satirical memoir of engagement with climate activists.
• Endangered Species: The Great North American Sasquatch Novel – A playful twist on cryptid lore.
• Hartz String Theory – A speculative, scienceinfused narrative.
• Mesh – A mélange of provocative short stories and analysis with writing partner Adina Pelle.
• Wales Detective Agency – A near-future noir, detective story where a billionaire and brother-sister team go to war against elite pedophiles. (upcoming)

Fantasy Collaborations

• The Reluctant Queen (with Kristen Lolatte)
• The Moon Maiden (with Kristen Lolatte)
• Fiona and Minnie: The New Age (upcoming, with Kristen Lolatte)

Technical Writing

• Real World FPGA Design with Verilog (Prentice Hall, 2002) → A respected engineering text, widely used by practitioners in digital design.

Journalism & Essays

• Contributor to How2Power and other technical publications, often writing with wit and skepticism about engineering, ethics, and technology.

Themes

• Satire of politics, science, and cultural orthodoxies.
• Blending of engineering precision with literary imagination.
• Contrarian takes on climate, technology, and social trends.
• Exploration of mortality, meaning, and human folly.

Financial Success

• Book sales: His novels and technical works are available on Amazon and via independent distribution channels.
• Publishing ventures: As founder of Stairway Press, he has overseen a catalog of literary, political, and technical works, generating additional revenue streams.
• Technical career: His parallel career in engineering and consulting has been lucrative, supplementing his literary pursuits.

Estimated net worth: Public sources don’t provide a verified figure. Based on decades in engineering, publishing, and authorship, it’s reasonable to place him in the low sevenfigure range, though this is an informed estimate rather than a documented fact.

Adaptability

• Many of his novels—especially Fairhaven, The Sandcastles of Irakkistan, and the Glen Wilson series—have cinematic qualities: sharp dialogue, satirical edge, and thriller pacing.
• To date, none have been adapted for film, but they are “ripe” for treatment in the indie or streaming space.

Bottom Line

Ken Coffman is a rare hybrid: engineer, publisher, and novelist. His career spans technical rigor and literary satire, with works ranging from FPGA design manuals to biting political thrillers. Financially, he’s had success both in engineering and independent publishing, though he’s not in the celebrity author wealth tier. His novels remain cult favorites with strong potential for screen adaptation.