Michael S. Ripley was born in the Monterey Bay Area of Central California, in an age before cell phones and home computers. His formative years were heavily influenced by dinosaurs, Ray Bradbury, Avalon Hill Wargames, J.R.R. Tolkien, Dungeons & Dragons, Godzilla, and H.P. Lovecraft. After graduating High School, he spent four years in the U.S. Army spying on the East Germans during the Cold War. After his military stint, he earned a four year degree in European History, with a minor in Military History, from San Jose State University and began working for the Santa Cruz Public Library. He's been there 30 years and counting. When not at work, he spends time with his partner Caroline or playing games with his current RPG group. This is his first book.