John Shirley was born in Houston and now lives in Vancouver, Washington. He is the author of numerous novels and books of short stories, and he won the Bram Stoker Award for his collection Black Butterflies. His novels include the Specialist books (under the name John Cutter), The Brigade, Bleak History, the A Song Called Youth trilogy, and the novel of Wyatt Earp as a young lawman, Wyatt in Wichita. He has also written television shows, movies, and songs.