Clara Ward lives in Silicon Valley on the border between reality and speculative fiction. Their latest novel, Be the Sea, features a near-future ocean voyage, chosen family, and sea creature perspectives, while delving into our ocean, our selves, and how all futures intertwine.
Their short fiction has appeared in Strange Horizons, Decoded Pride, Small Wonders, and as a postcard from Thinking Ink Press. When not using words to teach or tell stories, Clara uses wood, fiber, and glass to make practical or completely impractical objects.
Dirk grew up in a minister’s family, watching each week as Chris, his father, shaped what he believed was a divinely inspired message. The Lord never gave Chris all the details, just the basic “message” and it was dad’s job to craft that gospel into a persuasive, engaging twenty minute homily—every week. Little wonder Dirk has a life-long fascination with words and their power. Both of Dirk’s sisters are published authors.
Dirk was an actor throughout high school, much of college and one season of summer stock. Trained as a choral music teacher, he taught in public schools for several years after earning his MS Music degree at the University of Illinois.
While earning his livelihood trading for his own account on the floor of the Chicago Boar
