David Poyer, 1949 - Writer David Poyer was born in DuBois, Pennsylvania, in 1949, and grew up in the towns of Brockway, Emlenton, and Bradford in western Pennsylvania. He graduated from high school and then attended the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, graduating in 1971. He received a masters degree from George Washington University. Poyers active and reserve service have included sea duty in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Arctic, Caribbean, and Pacific and shore duty at the Pentagon, as well as other commands. He has served on the USS Bowen, Comphibron Eight, USS Charleston, USS Antrim, Surface Warfare Development Group, U.S. Atlantic Command and as Captain for the U.S. Naval Reserve at Joint Forces Command. Poyer has taught or lectured at Annapolis, Flagler College, University of Pittsburgh, Old Dominion University, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the University of North Florida. Hes been a guest on PBSs Writer to Writer series and on Voice of America. Poyer has written the Navy novels The Med, The Gulf, The Circle, The Passage, and Tomahawk. He has also written the historical thriller The Only Thing to Fear and the comic novel of Annapolis The Return of Philo T. McGiffin. Thunder on the Mountain is a historical novel set in 1936; and set in the Pennsylvania hills, are the titles The Dead of Winter, Winter in the Heart and As the Wolf Loves Winter.