Born in Honolulu, Bonnett was raised in Los Angeles and settled in Sausalito across the bay from San Francisco. At California College of Arts and Crafts, he trained as a graphic designer and fine artist. His oil paintings of historic ships and maritime subjects draw from the rich heritage of such painters as Turner and Constable, while bringing a vitality and energy to the genre. His original paintings are now a treasure trove to draw upon for his new book covers in fiction. An award-winning editor and publisher since 1983, he continues to plumb the depths of the past in his short stories and novels.