J. Patrick Conlon was born into a military family. Since high school, he has been an avid reader of science fiction. Also, he learned many useful skills as a youth: to this day, he makes much of his own clothing. After graduating, he joined the Army and began a 24 year career there. He retired, attended college, and became a teacher. He taught 7th grade writing and discovered an interest and flair for writing, book production, and poetry. He published some of his writings in Texas Voices and other places. After retiring from teaching, Conlon was hired at the local Veterans Affairs Medical Clinic to manage volunteers. He decided to write a short story for Science Fiction Magazinebut —after several hundred thousand words—realized he had a novel.