About the Author

John Buzzanca is a writer and legal professional based in Southern Orange County, California. After leaving behind a life of smuggling along the California coast, he started a new career in the legal field in late 1993 — with no prior experience.

Determined to rebuild, he earned his A.A. from Saddleback College in 1999 and a bachelor's degree from Chapman University in 2005, all while working full-time and navigating wage garnishment from a landmark surrogacy custody case that made national headlines.

His unique perspective on the law is shaped by resilience, firsthand experience with criminal consequences, and the reality of 1990s surrogacy regulations. Through The Smuggler's Daughter, John shares his story as a cautionary tale — hoping to inspire, inform, and offer hard-won lessons from both sides of the law.