Michael R. Schultheiss is a lifelong daydreamer. He has been escaping into other worlds since he was a boy.

His early influences include Tolkien, Terry Brooks, and David Eddings on the fantasy side of things, and Ray Bradbury and H.G. Wells for science fiction.

Over time, he graduated to George R. R. Martin, Brandon Sanderson, Alec Hutson, Jim Butcher, Steven Erikson, and R. Scott Bakker. 

In addition to fantasy and science fiction, he is a lifelong history buff. His obsessions include the Roman Empire, Medieval Europe, Persia (ancient and medieval), the early Islamic world, the Ottoman Empire, and Early Modern Europe. 

He grew up in the Sierra foothills around Grass Valley, California. He spent much of his childhood either reading or chasing insects, lizards, and snakes.

Michael currently lives in Oregon with his fiancé, Beka, and their puppy Oswald. He likes to read multiple books at the same time – usually at least one historical non-fiction and a couple of novels.

At any time, there’s a good chance he’s plotting his next novel.