Nestled in a quiet, rugged corner of Montana, L.W. APEN lives a life shaped by wide-open skies and deep reflection. After retiring from a demanding career, he chose the stillness of a small mountain town to focus on the things that matter most. He shares his home with his wife, an orphaned bobcat named Bobby, and a formidable wolf/Malamute hybrid named Mister.

When he isn’t writing, APEN, his wife, and their unique companions Mister and Bobby can often be found on short hikes through the local terrain, pausing to watch the sunset paint the mountain ranges and quiet valleys. For APEN, these treks are a way to observe nature in all its original, untouched beauty. Strangely, he has never felt fear around the wild animals he encounters along the trails. Instead, he treats them with quiet respect, maintaining a distant appreciation of their raw beauty and power, while quietly lending a careful helping hand to a creature in need whenever the moment calls for it.

The spark for his debut novel, Handicapped, arrived unexpectedly born from a vivid, unforgettable dream one night.

Driven by that vision, APEN began paying closer attention to the special needs individuals within his own community. He saw the immense, daily friction of their lives compared to the unfettered path of “normal” souls. Yet, beneath the struggle, he witnessed something extraordinary: a distinct, resilient glow a light entirely their own.

Falling in love with the profound spirit of these individuals, he vowed to bring the story from his dream into the world.

As a writer, APEN considers himself a humble scribe rather than a creator; the book has largely written itself, unfolding with a depth far beyond his wildest imagination. Handicapped is just the beginning. It serves as the opening chapter of a powerful three-part journey, with Books 2 and 3 currently in active development. Through this series, APEN hopes to share a moving, metaphysical origin story of these brave, dedicated, and loving souls reminding us all of a deeper existence free from ego, malice, and anger.