A Little About Me:

I am an author & blogger, artist & craftsman, and business owner/operator currently residing in beautiful Las Vegas, NV. Holding two nutritional certifications, I am a healthy nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle advocate. Ideologically, I describe myself as an individualistIndividualism:
The belief that all individuals are sovereign, having the sole and final authority over their own life, mind, body, labor, property, and wealth., consensualistConsensualism:
The belief that all interactions between individuals should be consensual among all involved, and not forced or coerced (or conversely, constrained or prohibited)., syncretistSyncretism: The merging or assimilation of several different traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, thus asserting an underlying unity; the reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief such as in philosophy or religion., & autarchist. As for BMTI profile, I am a strong INTJ (and BTW, got the mug too!). I love animals & wildlife, and am particularly fond of cats. I long to someday live in a small coastal village in a tropical climate, potentially south of the border (what can I say, I’m Aquarius, I need an ocean!)

Education:

2021 – Acquired Ancestral Health Certification
2019 – Acquired Nutritional Certification
2011 – Acquired Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) Certification
2000 – Aviation License | Private Pilot Helicopter
Graduated: Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis – Majors: Math, English, Communications, Music

Writing Achievements:

2024: Short story The Ritual awarded finalist in Crystal Lake Publishing‘s Shallow Waters flash fiction competition (anthology no longer published)
2023: Formed Eastwood Innovations, LLC & Launched online gift shop Lifeology Store
2023: Short story The Road Home selected as top series finalist & published in Crystal Lake Publishing‘s Shallow Waters Final Series Anthology
2021: Published Rolling The Bones in hardcover
2020: Short Story The Road Home awarded finalist and published in Crystal Lake Publishing‘s flash-fiction anthology Shallow Waters Vol. 5
2016: Published first book Rolling The Bones
2010: Short Story CATS: not the musical awarded Finalist in Writer’s Digest Annual Competition
2010: Won honorable mention (4th place) Carpe Articulum Literary Review‘s annual international short story competition with Forever Anna Day
2009: Won first place in Carpe Articulum Literary Review‘s annual international short story competition with The Traveler

Residence:

2002 – present: Las Vegas, Nevada – Summerlin area
1999 – 2002: Houston, Texas – Cypress area
Born – 1999: Indianapolis, Indiana – west side, Ben Davis area

History of Employment, Achievements, & Life Events:

August 2024: The Ritual Awarded Finalist in Competition
My flash fiction short story The Ritual was awarded finalist in Crystal Lake Publishing‘s Shallow Waters flash fiction competition (unfortunately, the anthologies are no longer being published)

December 7, 2023: Passed Nutritional Re-Certification Exam (98%)
Precision Nutrition Level 1

October 21, 2023: Launched Lifeology Store
Online Store offering exclusive, unique, one-of-a-kind products & gifts
Gift Shop: LifeologyStore.com
Lifeology Store Facebook Page
(Note: I also maintain the website)

September 29, 2023: The Road Home Published in Huge Anthology (Paperback)
My flash fiction story The Road Home was included in Crystal Lake Publishing’s huge Shallow Waters horror Flash Fiction Anthology (over 100 top selections from the series, over 350 pages trade paperback)

May 11, 2023: Founded Eastwood Innovations, LLC
Las Vegas, NV
Eastwood Innovations, LLC is an umbrella LLC for various business ventures, including my online gift shop offering custom-designed products Lifeology Store, this growing and ever-expanding blog Insights, and other potential businesses either currently under consideration, or that may arise in the future.

November 15, 2021: Published Rolling The Bones in Hardcover
Originally published in 2016 in paperback and on Kindle, and now available in hardcover, Rolling The Bones is a collection of twelve subtly interconnected tales of dark fiction—including a few award-winners—comprising 8 short stories, 3 novellas, and a short novel

October 2021: Passed Nutritional Re-Certification Exam (94%)
Precision Nutrition Level 1

October 2021: Acquired Ancestral Health Certification
Primal Mastery Course | Primal Health Coach, LLC
Evolutionary science, Genetics, Nutrition (paleo, low carb, keto), ancestral lifestyle practices

April 2020: The Road Home Awarded Finalist and Published in Anthology (Kindle)
Shallow Waters Vol. 5
My flash-fiction story The Road Home was awarded finalist and published in Crystal Lake Publishing’s Shallow Waters anthology, Vol 5

December 2019: Acquired Nutritional Certification
Precision Nutrition Level 1

June 2016: Published Rolling The Bones
Rolling The Bones is a collection of twelve subtly interconnected tales dark fiction—including a few award-winners—comprising 8 short stories, 3 novellas, and a short novel

2011: Started the Rand Eastwood Blog (now INSIGHTS)
Rand Eastwood Blog (since rebranded to INSIGHTS – in the pursuit of life, liberty, health, & happiness)
(Note: I also maintain the website)

April 2011: Acquired Pool & Spa Operator Certification
Las Vegas, NV
NSFP (National Swimming Pool Foundation) Certified CPO

March 2011: Started Riptide Pool Care
Las Vegas, NV
Launched Riptide Pool Care with my brother
(Note: I also maintain the website)
See Photo

2011: Moved Myself & Brother to Las Vegas, NV
We moved to Las Vegas to start a pool service company (Riptide Pool Care)

2010: Worked at Hardware Store
Menards Home Improvement Center, Avon IN
Stocking Associate

2010: Short Story CATS (not the musical) Awarded Finalist
Finalist (top 100), eventually placed #40 in Genre Fiction
Writer’s Digest 79th Annual Writing Competition
(Short story since expanded to a short novel CATS: the number of the beast, which I’ve since unpublished and instead included it in the collection Rolling The Bones)
See CATS Cover Art

2010: Short Story Forever Anna Day Awarded Honorable Mention
International Short Fiction Competition
Carpe Articulum Literary Review Magazine
(Short story since expanded to a novella now available on Amazon, and also included in the collection Rolling The Bones)

2009: Short Story The Traveler Awarded First Place
International Short Fiction Competition, Carpe Articulum Literary Review Magazine
Now also available in the collection Rolling The Bones

2009: Moved To Indianapolis
Helped brother renovate newly purchased condo

2008: Returned to Las Vegas
Started job at Rampart Casino
Sports Book Cashier

2007 – 2008: Worked in Hardware Store
Sears Hardware & Appliances, Avon, IN
Tool & Hardware Lead, Shift Manager
Business Defunct

2007 – 2008: Worked in Property Maintenance
LJC Properties, LLC, Indianapolis, IN
Rental Property Maintenance

2007: Moved To Indianapolis (Avon) IN
Helped brother renovate home for sale

2005 – 2006: Worked at Sign Shop
Signs, Etc. of Las Vegas
Graphic Design, Sign Production/Installation
Business Defunct

2004 – 2007: Worked at Book Store
Borders Bookstore, McCarran Intl Airport, Las Vegas NV
Shift Manager
Increased annual store sales $10k
Business Defunct

2003: Worked as Pool Tech
West Coast Pool & Spa, Las Vegas, NV
Worked a 50-pool weekly route
Business Defunct

Aug 2002: Moved to Las Vegas, NV
From Houston (Cypress), TX
Started job as warehouse manager trainee for pool products wholesaler, but left in short order due to poor management & internal conflict

Aug 2000: Completed My First Short Story: A Sweet Ride
A reader favorite to this day, A Sweet Ride is now available on Amazon

June 2000: Acquired Helicopter Pilot License
Houston (Spring), TX
Private Pilot Rotorcraft

March 2000: Started Helicopter Pilot Training
Houston (Spring), TX
Helicopter Services, Inc., David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport
See Photo

Nov 1999: Moved to Houston, TX
From Indianapolis, IN
To attend helicopter flight school

1992 – 1999: Worked in Manufacturing
LasTec Inc., Lizton, IN
Research & Development / Machine Design
Manufacturing Technician
Purchasing & Inventory Manager
Publications Manager
LasTec, Inc. merged with Wood-Mizer Products, Inc. in 1997 (see below)

1990 – 1992: Worked in Retail Management
Indiana Video Concepts, Inc., Indianapolis, IN
Video Store Manager, Store No. 5
Designated Company Manager Trainer
Business Defunct

1985 – 1989: Worked in Manufacturing
Wood-Mizer Products, Inc., Indianapolis, IN
General Machine Shop
Vacuum Dry-Kiln Assembly Foreman

1982 – 1985: Worked in Manufacturing
Laskowski Enterprises, Speedway, IN
General Machine Shop
Shipping & Warehouse Manager
Research & Development
Transitioned to Wood-Mizer Products, Inc. in 1985 (see above)

1981: Graduated Ben Davis High School
Indianapolis, IN
Majors:
Math, English, Communications, Music
Extra-Curricular:
(Award-winning) Photographer for Yearbook & Newspaper
(Award-winning) Drumline Section Leader
Also wrote drumline parade cadences and components of drumline halftime show
Final Senior Composition paper kept by teacher as model for future students
Final DNA model kept by science teacher as model for future students
First Place grade 9 Science Fair
First Place grade 8 Science Fair