Shawn Oetzel, author of the new speculative fiction novel, Dying Moon was born and raised in Central Illinois where he still lives with his wife, three kids, and their frustratingly lovable pet pooch, Hemingway. Shawn learned to read at an early age. While his peers were still seeing Dick, Jane, and Spot run, Shawn was devouring bestsellers and adult fiction at an alarming rate. This of course led to his deep affinity for all things literary which in actuality is now more akin to a full-blown addiction. It was the summer of Shawn’s twelfth year however that his life was inexplicably changed forever when a neighbor recommended Shawn read Terry Brooks’ novel, The Sword of Shannara. It was upon completion of this novel Shawn’s love affair with the fantasy genre began and ruled his life for the next several years. During this period Shawn discovered many of the authors who would help shape his own creative style including but not limited to R.A. Salvatore, George R.R. Martin, Robin Hobb, and of course fantasy guru, Terry Brooks. Later in life Shawn finished college and began a career in social services which eventually led to his current position as an Adult Probation Officer for the county he grew up in. It was at this time Shawn also developed a strong interest in crime fiction. The novels of James Patterson, Tess Gerritsen, Eileen Dreyer, and Jeffrey Deaver began to take up residence on the shelves of Shawn’s many bookcases. It was at this stage of his life that an idea began to form in Shawn’s mind. What would happen if his two literary loves were somehow combined? This concept quickly took seed in the recesses of Shawn’s brain and began to steadily grow. It was not until at the urging of Shawn’s wife that he decided to try his hand at creating his own stories, and from there it was not long before that idea actually began to bear fruit. Thus, Dying Moon was born. When not working or writing his next project, Shawn can be found attending his children’s many extracurricular activities or tucked away upstairs at his home in his favorite corner losing himself in the pages of yet another good book. Shawn is also a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan who longs for the glorious day he will be able to see his beloved Cubbies play in a World Series. Shawn is currently working towards getting his newest completed novel published and wishes for the day he can write fulltime. Shawn has always dreamed of being a superhero, knight, or a writer. He is ecstatic that he has made good on at least one of those endeavors. "Shawn Oetzel seamlessly blends crime drama and fantasy in this exciting debut novel. As the tale unfolds, he explores the clash of elven and human cultures in the modern world and spices it up with enough action that it'll keep you turning the pages." - David Lee Summers, Author of The Solar Sea and Vampires of the Scarlet Order.