James Cortese grew up in Massachusetts, earned a Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin, settled for a time in Ohio and Silicon Valley, and now lives in Houston. He is the author of an award-winning book of fables called "What the Owl Said," as well as many published short stories and articles on film-his other passion besides writing and computers. He has worked as a college professor, short-order cook, book editor, operating room orderly, professional student, librarian, and executive speechwriter for high-tech companies that had an annoying habit of going out of business. As a young child, his dream was to be a firefighter. Later, once he learned to read and write, he realized his true vocation wasn't putting out fires but starting them.