Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology (40 page)

Aaron Sikes began his adult life wearing a soldier's Kevlar
^®
helmet. He's worn several hats since, including the toque of an apprentice pastry chef. Now, he's a full-time dad, and writes science-fiction as A. J. Sikes. His stories lean towards the weird side of the shelf, and tend to be located in his favorite American city: Chicago. If he's not writing, he's probably tinkering with something in the woodshop. Or doing laundry. Aaron tweets
@SikesAaron
, follow at
www.facebook.com/SikesAaron
.

Belinda Sikes wrote her first story at age five and her first novel at age twelve. She writes historical and fantasy romances, but since earning her Doctorate in Plant Pathology, has detoured into the life of a science writer.

Originally from Milwaukee, WI, Alyson Grauer is an actor and writer currently living, working, and performing in Chicago, IL. She is a staff writer for You Know You Love Fashion (
www.youknowyoulovefashion.com
) as well as for Doctor Fantastique's Show of Wonders (
www.doctorfantastiques.com
), and co-writes a nerdy blog at
Comma-Chameleon.com
. Alyson has previously contributed to the ongoing Tales from the Archives podcast/ebook anthology through the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris, and has published non-fiction in the Journal of Perinatal Education for Lamaze
^®
International. She plays the ukulele and can be found on Twitter
@dreamstobecome
.

Anika Arrington is a devoted wife and mother of five. She has been reading and writing stories since she was four years old. She has lived in Arizona since the age of three, and feels quite at home in the desert, despite dreams of greener landscapes. She spends most of her time chasing toddlers, trying out new recipes, and chipping away at the novels that will make her famous someday. She is a monthly contributor at
mommyauthors.blogspot.com
and transiently maintains her own blog
www.necessarynurture.wordpress.com
.

A. F. Stewart was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, and still calls it home. The youngest in a family of seven children, she has always had an overly creative mind and an active imagination. She is fond of good books (especially science fiction/fantasy), action movies, sword collecting, and oil painting.

Ms. Stewart is an indie author with several published novellas and story collections in the dark fantasy and horror genres, with a few side trips into poetry and non-fiction. She has a great interest in history and mythology, often working those themes into her books and stories. Twitter:
@scribe77
.

A graduate in History from UCLA, David Wilkin has written in various genres for thirty years. Extensive study of pre-modern civilizations, including years re-enacting Medieval, Renaissance and Regency times, has given Mr. Wilkin insight into such antiquated cultures. He studied Micawber and Copperfield's period of Victorian Colonialism under John Semple Galbraith.

With a proficiency in historical conventions, his fantasy and historical work encompasses mores beyond hero quests, and adds depth to his created worlds. Mr. Wilkin regularly posts about Regency history on his blog
thethingsthatcatchmyeye.wordpress.com
, and as a member of English Historical Fiction Authors (
englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com
). Mr. Wilkin is the author of several Regency romances; his most recent, a sequel to the epic Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, called Colonel Fitzwilliam's Correspondence. Twitter:
@DWWilkin
.

A Wisconsin gal with a Southwest soul, M. K. Wiseman can generally be found wandering happily amongst the pages of the largest book she can get her hands on. She came upon writing rather accidentally, finding that, sometimes, there are stories that simply must be told.

A techie with a penchant for typewriters, she is a magnet for misadventure, though her own story has yet to unfold. Harboring such dreams as someday possessing a library complete with hidden bookcase doors, piloting a hot air balloon, and running away in a sailboat, she currently subsists contentedly between worlds in the company of her hypoallergenic fish. She tweets
@FaublesFables
. Connect on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/faublesfables
.

As a child, Neve Talbot, developed the habit of lulling herself to sleep by dreaming up continuations of her favorite books too soon ended. She never left off the habit, and eventually gained confidence in worlds of her own creation. She first cracked open a spiral binder in high school, and has spent the past decade dutifully penning her prerequisite one million words of bad writing before getting to the good stuff.

Now author and journalist, Neve currently lives with her husband in a quasi-reality filled with fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, Regency romance, the classics, and history books, suspended between the piney woods and sprawling metropolis of southeast Texas. She plans on exploring the world when she grows up.

Scott William Taylor lives and writes in Utah. He grew up living on the side of a mountain and lives on that same mountain today, with his family and a dog that loves cheese. Scott is married, with four children. He received his undergraduate degree in Communications from the University of Utah and a Masters in English from Weber State University. Scott is the creator and producer of A Page or Two Podcast. He also wrote the award-winning short film, Wrinkles. When not writing and working, Scott enjoys participating in community theater productions with his children.
Follow Scott on Twitter
@Hyggeman
.