Leon J. West is a reformed thug, turned writer. He was born in Reno, Nevada, but had to move as the neon lights drove him mad, causing violent episodes, trouble with the law, and chronic drug abuse. He now lives in Eugene, Oregon with his wife and four children, where the near total lack of neon and/or sunlight keeps him sedated. He studies electrical engineering at the local community college, writes speculative fiction with the Eugene Professional Writer's workshop, and as of this writing had not been arrested in at least five years. He was a 2001 Writers of the Future Finalist and his story Memoria Technica appeared in that year’s Writers of the Future anthology.