Tom Crowley was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He received a BA in Economics and History at Marquette University in Milwaukee, and then did his graduate studies in International Economics and Asian History at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington DC. He served as an infantry officer and rifle platoon leader with the 25th Inf. Division in the Vietnam War where he was wounded, and decorated for his service. During his tour of duty, he developed a deep connection with Asia and made Asian history and languages a focus of his studies when he returned to school. After years of work in Asia as a US Foreign Service officer and then in the intelligence field, he moved to the business world working with the General Electric company, and living in various Asian countries. He ended up in Bangkok as a volunteer working for the Mercy Centre, an NGO in the Klong Toey slum area of Bangkok that helps street children, orphans and also children and adults who are HIV positive. A life-long runner, Tom has in recent years taken up competitive pool play, shooting pool in his spare time in tournaments in Thailand. Tom divides his time between homes in Kensington, Maryland and Bangkok. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, and the Military Writers Society of America and the author of “Bangkok Pool Blues,” a non-fiction look at the counter culture of the pool world in Bangkok and it’s denizens. His  Matt Chance fiction works include  “Viper’s Tail” , "Murder  in the Slaughterhouse" and, released in November 2020,  "Bangkok Gamble". All are  action adventure tales based in Thailand with a former U.S. Army Ranger as the  hero. His Vietnam memoir "Shrapnel Wounds" is on Amazon and Down & Out Books web site. His military history article on  "Merrill's Marauders" was published in WW II Quarterly in Oct. 2017.

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