In 1991, Alan went back to night school and years later graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BS in Economics and a Masters in Creative Writing. 

In 1999, Alan retired from his career in Information Technology to devote more time to his three hobbies: writing, traveling, and tennis. During that same timeframe, Alan legally changed his name to Alan Chin, so that he could share the same family name as his life partner, Herman Chin.  

Alan turned serious about his writing in 2003, and began working on his first novel, Island Song. While preparing for the debut of his first novel by Zumaya Publications, Alan has completed another novel, The Lonely War, which was published by Zumaya Publications in November 2009.

In 2010, Alan published two novels with Dreamspinner Press: Match Maker and Butterfly's Child. He is currently working on a fifth novel and three screenplays. 

Alan's work explores the challenges of gay characters relating to straight characters within a supercilious society, all the while weaving New Age philosophies into the fabric of the relationships.

Alan was recently award the QBliss Magazine 2009 Pride in Literature Award for the excellence of his debut novel, Island Song, and for his Examiner.com LGBT Literature column. 

Alan's novel, The Lonely War, swept the 2010 Rainbow Awards, taking 1st place in four catigories: Best All Around Gay Fiction, Best Historical, Best Characters, and Best Setting.

Alan currently lives and writes half of each year at his home in northern California, and he spends the other half of each year traveling the globe. 

You can learn more about Alan Chin, his writing and his travels, at: AlanChin.net and AlanChinWriter.blogspot.com