Carol Ryles is an Australian author who began her professional life as a registered nurse and then moved to Hainan Island, China, where she worked in occupational health, learned Mandarin and tutored English at various institutions. She now holds a BA in English (Hons 1) and a PhD focussing on the process of writing in the sub-genre of steampunk. She is a graduate of Clarion West 2008, and has worked as a Steering Committee member and editorial consultant for Trove (renamed Tenderfoot) an online journal of creative writing from The University of Western Australia. Her stories have appeared in a number of Australian publications including Eidolon, Aurealis and The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy Horror (2013). When not writing, Carol enjoys the art of quilting and is also turning her backyard into a forest.