As a member of the State Bar of California (currently inactive), Cowles is certified and authorized as an attorney and counselor of the United States Supreme Court. His service as a board member and president of various nonprofit organizations has earned him Congressional and other awards for his contributions.

He is the founder and former CEO of businesses in the photography and finance sectors. Cowles, an avid traveler and pilot of his own aircraft, has also volunteered for a month with the Israeli Defense Forces.

Cowles dedicated over eight years to the publication and editing of the Keno Newsletter, a monthly periodical enjoyed by keno enthusiasts and casino professionals. He spent six years authoring a weekly column for Gaming Today. For a span of three years, Cowles crafted op-ed pieces and a weekly culinary column for the Peninsula Gateway newspaper located in Gig Harbor, Washington. His articles have appeared in the Las Vegas Sun and Newsweek magazine.

With a rich background and diverse experiences, Cowles writes across a broad range of genres such as mystery, adventure, thriller, comedy, romance, instructional guides, nonfiction, and cookbooks. He frequently blends multiple genres into a single book.