Lawrence M. Schoen holds a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology, with a special focus in psycholinguistics. He spent ten years as a college professor, and has done extensive research in the areas of human memory and language. His background in the study of the behavior and the mind provide a principal metaphor for his fiction. In 2007 he was a finalist for the Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and in 2010 he was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Short Story. He currently works as the director of research and chief compliance officer for a series of mental health and addiction treatment facilities. He's also one of the world's foremost authorities on the Klingon language, having championed the exploration of this constructed tongue and lectured on this unique topic throughout the world. He lives just outside of Philadelphia with his wife, Valerie, who is neither a psychologist nor a speaker of Klingon. Photo courtesy N.E. Lilly/GreenTentacles