Author Philip McBride is extending his writing interests into historical fiction in this, his first novel, Whittled Away. For over a decade McBride has been a contributing writer to the Camp Chase Gazette magazine, writing dozens of articles about Civil War soldiers, and the hobby of Civil War reenacting. McBride is a retired teacher and high school principal and is an avid consumer of military historical fiction. He lives with his wife Juanita and yellow dog Dixie in Lockhart, Texas, not so far from the Alamo.