Welcome! I’m Doug Bayliss, a public speaker, storyteller, and creator of the Bronto Brothers book series.
I strive to blend imagination (perception) with life experience (imagery) and create stories filled with friendship, humor, and heart.
My career progressed from Finance Manager to Purchasing Director, and after an unfortunate set of circumstances in the 1990s, I transitioned to an IT Administrator.
Now I’m retired, writing and keeping up with the Bronto Brothers!
1950s: Where it Began
I was born in State College, PA, during my dad’s senior year at Penn State. We lived nearby in Belfonte, PA, and moved to New Jersey when I was two.
1960s: Home Away From Home
We lived at my grandparents’ airport, which inspired my first published book, Little Wings, Big Dreams, in 2024. Sky Manor Airport is still in service today!
1970s: First Taste of Freedom
Passed my driver’s license test in my mom’s 1966 Oldsmobile Tornado!
1980s: Married Michelle Polyak
1990s: A Whole ‘Lotta Fun
Entrepreneurial Spirit
I successfully organized the start-up of a global industrial chemical engineering office and later became Director of Purchasing.
We were fortunate to find a ranch-style house in Littlestown, PA. It was worth the commute to live in the rolling hillsides of Adams County, PA, and be able to care for Erica.
2000s: Some of Life’s Trials
- As anticipated, Erica eventually died from the complications of Lissencephaly. A strong family system kept us together and in relatively good spirits. Her older brother and sister survive Erica. I created a website featuring memories you can visit, along with more information about the rare disease.
- Erica Michelle Bayliss (lisskid.com)
- I am diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a form of neuro-muscular dystrophy. Without going into a lot of detail, it’s inherited, and after nearly 7 decades of progression, I’m now a skeleton with little muscle left to hold it up.
- Aphantasia. I’ve come to realize I have Aphantasia, or the inability to visualize in one’s “mind’s eye.” I found this helpful article: Does Not Being Able to Picture Something in Your Mind Affect Your Creativity?
COVID-19 Global Pandemic
Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf ordered all “non-life-sustaining” businesses to close their physical locations by 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2020, to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
- Effective date: The initial closure order was announced on Thursday, March 19, 2020.
- Enforcement: Enforcement measures for most non-compliant businesses were set to begin on Saturday, March 21, 2020, at 12:01 a.m.
Friday, March 20, 2020. We downsized from Littlestown, closing the deal on our new manufactured home at a local title office, where employees were wearing face masks and spraying disinfectant, freaking out about having to deal with us while shutting down the office to prevent illness and death. 🤣
Earlier that day, we were forced to close the sale of our home in Littlestown by parking our cars on opposite sides of a large parking lot! We had to keep in our vehicles while the disenfranchised realtor drove back and forth between us, passing signature documents through the car windows!
Today
I enjoy writing and getting back to basics.
🌐 Facebook: Link
🦕 Bronto Brothers: Website | Wiki
In 1957, Penn State had both a football and a baseball team known as the Nittany Lions. The football team, led by Coach Rip Engle, finished 6–3 as an independent, while the baseball team, under Coach Joe Bedenk, posted a 22–2 record and was the runner-up in the College World Series.
To learn more about the author, see About Me, an ongoing autobiographical timeline. For a catalog of published works, visit the Amazon.com Book Library (external link). To return to the home page, go to Home.
