I sometimes joke that I was born the son of a sharecropper — a story I can imagine but didn’t live. Like many authors, my writing reflects personal experience while remaining mostly fictional.

Born in Jamestown, NY in 1958, also the birthplace of Lucille Ball, and raised in Fredonia, NY. The house that I grew up in is reimagined as a bed and breakfast in The Boarding House.

Faith & Education

I was born, raised, and remain a Roman Catholic. My education includes 18 years of Catholic schooling.

• St. Joseph’s/Fredonia Catholic

• Cardinal Mindszenty High School (’76)

• Canisius University — BS Accounting (’80)

• California State University Dominguez Hills — MA Humanities (2005)

• Catholic International — MA Theology (2024)

The Catholic, and in particular the Jesuit, influences are often visible in my writing.

Professional Life

Includes nearly 40 years in accounting, specializing in multi‑jurisdictional taxation and leadership and development of professionals. My career includes roles with EY and ForvisMazars, with assignments in:

• Buffalo, NY

• Geneva, Switzerland

• Philadelphia, PA

• New York, NY

I also spent a year in Neuchatel, Switzerland working with an entrepreneurial venture — a time I now refer to as my sabbatical.

Writing Life

Between academics and my profession, I wrote extensively — though not in a literary context. After retiring from lucrative work, I began a self‑directed writer’s workshop, assigning myself stories that were humorous, reflective, suspenseful, and erotic. This became The Boarding House (2022), published under the pen name Mitt Yelrub.

In 2026, I completed two manuscripts of novels:

• Tugtown Tavern (Yelrub)

• The Jesus Gene (Burley)

The two author’s names reflect two distinct voices and perspectives.

Personal Life

Currently, I reside in southeastern Pennsylvania with my wife of 46 years. We have six children and nine grandchildren. When I’m not writing or praying, I’m usually outdoors fishing, hiking, or hunting. I enjoy a cigar and Jameson while listening to the Phillies on the radio, and when the weather turns, I head inside to watch the Eagles.

I remain deeply engaged in theological, philosophical, political, and cultural issues; usually with a desire to learn and understand rather than to teach or persuade.