Jody Douglas Speight

I was born December 31, 1969--the same year as the historic moon landing, a benchmark in the progress of science and technology for mankind. I am a NASA-nut, and well-versed in the delicate art of daydreaming (I can daydream just about anywhere, anytime). Currently, I am a graduate student in the University of Utah's Communication department studying, of all things, Environmental Communication. My B.S. is in public relations (pun unintended but appropriate).

My wife and I are eagerly expecting our first child anytime soon. Once I graduate, we may move away from Salt Lake City. I grew up in Oregon, and I sorely miss the rain and the coast. Despite my education, writing is the love of my life, and this opportunity to be editor of a web-zine just for sci-fi and fantasy writers is a dream come true!

As I eventually begin posting some of my own work on the site (one of the perks to being an editor!), you will notice that my strength lies more in fantasy than science fiction. And a great inspiration for me has been (as is the case for most fantasy writers, I imagine) J.R.R. Tolkien. However, Robert Jordan, Orson Scott Card, Glen Cook, Terry Brooks, and C.S. Friedman have written some remarkable literature that carry a very strong influence as well.

But Science fiction is not entirely new to me, either. I grew up reading Asimov and Bradbury. And Greg Bear and Ben Bova have written some wonderful works, too. I enjoy hard-core sci-fi, or hard Science Science fiction. I don't write it, but I enjoy reading it nonetheless.

I am currently working on a fantasy novel titled Loose Cannon, and when not struggling with writer's block or working on my thesis, I try my hand at re-learning how to write short stories. When not doing any of the before-mentioned, I like to hike the Wasatch Front range and enjoy a really good thunderstorm with my wife. There's nothing more fascinating than nature's raw power!