Sam L. Pfiester was born in Fort Stockton, Texas. He spent his childhood trotlining and floating the canyons of the Big Bend. He spent his college years canoeing the rivers of central Texas. He spent his naval career patrolling the rivers of Vietnam. As an adult he has floated rivers on every continent except Antartica. He is the founding member of River Ratus Americans. He has written four historical novels and is the screenwriter and producer of the movie Blanche.