Robert L. Dean, Jr. is the author of Pulp (Finishing Line Press, 2022), The Aerialist Will not be Performing: Ekphrastic Poems and Short Fictions to the Art of Steven Schroeder (Turning Plow Press, 2020), and At the Lake with Heisenberg (Spartan Press, 2018). A multiple Best of the Net and Pushcart nominee, his work has appeared in many journals and reviews. A native Kansan, Dean has been a professional musician and worked at The Dallas Morning News. He lives in Augusta, Kansas, along with a universe of books, CDs, LPs, and a couple dozen hats. He enjoys chess and backgammon, when he can find someone willing to play.