T.D. Arkenberg left the world of global airline executive to pursue his dream of becoming an author. He has published three novels. His first, Final Descent is the story of a airline in chaos, and the three men who battle for the company’s soul. His second, Jell-O and Jackie O is a poignant coming-of-age tale set in the late 1960s. A little boy escapes family struggles with the aid of an active imagination and Jackie Kennedy Onassis. The book was awarded a Bronze Medal by Independent Publishers for best regional fiction. The same book was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Faulkner-Wisdom literary competition. T.D.’s latest novel is None Shall Sleep. The book’s heroine declares that Opera is Life as she sets out to re-invent herself from management consultant to opera singer. The story, set in London and Italy, inspires and delights. An early draft of the novel was a short-list finalist in the Faulkner-Wisdom literary competition. For his next project, a memoir entitled, Two Towers, T.D. covers the catastrophic consequences of the events of September 11, 2001 on his employer, United Airlines and the near simultaneous deaths of his parents.

T.D. is an alumnus of Chicago’s two oldest writers groups, Off Campus Writers Workshop, and the Barrington Writers Workshop as well as the Brussels Writers Circle in Belgium. He also served on the board of the Barrington Chapter of The Lyric Opera of Chicago as the Program co-chair.

T.D. spent 23 years working for a global airline.  His last project was the design and implementation of a global cultural change effort to align employees to the carrier’s strategic plan.  Prior responsibilities included leading a $3 billion regional jet operation, directing the scheduling of 20,000 flight attendants, and leadership roles in airport management, customer service, sales, call centers and finance.  T.D. left the industry for a writing career.

T.D. received a Master of Business Administration from The University of Chicago, concentrating in Finance & Accounting with additional studies at The London Business School.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University, majoring in English Literature & History.

T.D., his spouse, and their Golden Retriever moved to Brussels, Belgium in January 2014. T.D. captured their adventures in his blog. In January of 2016, the couple, their Golden Retriever and a new addition, a cat named Puhi returned to their home outside Chicago.