Meet the author
Tom Carman.
A life beyond labels.
An American author and freelance actor currently living in Ithaca, New York. Tom is a retired medicolegal death investigator with a background in forensics and business. Today, his writing draws on the human stories behind his work—and the lessons of his own journey.
Professional background
A career spent
looking closer.
Over 20 years in medicolegal death investigation, Tom investigated more than 2,000 deaths and consulted on additional cases. The work gave him firsthand knowledge not only of scenes and evidence, but also of the people affected by them.
He provided education in forensics and evidence preservation to emergency medical services, fire personnel, and law enforcement. His business experience includes serving as CEO of a large nonprofit ambulance organization.
His writing began at the request of Jean Stevens, who encouraged him to tell her life story. Their relationship developed into a lasting friendship, marked by mutual learning and a deeper understanding of hope, acceptance, and death.
The story that became a bookFaith & personal journey
The past is not
the whole story.
Tom believes in love, grace, forgiveness, and hope. He shares his personal journey as someone familiar with sin, hardship, and the difficulty of starting over and accepting death.
Having been formerly incarcerated, he dedicates his life to serving the underdogs. His desire to offer hope extends to those presently or formerly incarcerated, those struggling with sin, and those confronting mortality and spiritual conflict.
Drawing on scripture, his lived experience, and the death cases that affected him, Tom writes about recognizing our flaws and making positive changes. His faith is central to that work: while we are living, there remains hope for a better today and tomorrow.
The mission
Hope for
the underdogs.
Represent the Underdogs is Tom’s commitment to people who feel overlooked, judged, or unable to begin again. He believes anyone can receive hope and start a new journey, leaving their past behind.
Tom also provides inspirational speaking upon request.
Speaking & other inquiriesKeep the conversation going