Hello! I'm Brandon Hawley, a software developer, aspiring game developer, and father of three from Independence, Missouri. I love creating. Some of my earliest memories are full of writing stories and worlds I wished existed. I filled notebooks with sketches, mechanics, maps, and stories, convinced that one day I'd bring them all to life. Like many childhood dreams, though, I slowly let that vision give way to practicality.

  After high school, I began studying engineering before switching to computer science, hoping to turn my interest in technology into a stable career. When the pandemic disrupted college, I decided to try learning independently while building a business from what I'd already learned. Running Hawleywood Electronics gave me invaluable experience solving real-world problems across a much wider range of technologies than I probably had any business taking on. It also taught me something unexpected: success doesn't mean much if it comes at the expense of the things that matter most. The business wasn't my calling. It was a stepping stone, one that eventually began weighing me down.

  Around the same time, we experienced the loss of our nine-month-old son. That season permanently changed how I think about time, purpose, and the kind of life I wanted to build. As I gradually stepped away from my business, I made a promise to myself that I would stop treating my passions as something I'd pursue "someday."