David Bolton grew up in the Baltimore area, where he spent his childhood in the Donnybrook apartments in Towson. A lifelong observer of the ways everyday lives intersect, Bolton has drawn on memories, stories, and the textures of mid-century America to craft this work of fiction. His writing blends historical realism with deep empathy for working-class families, veterans, and dreamers whose voices often go unheard. From Tokyo to Washington, DC, he worked across fields ranging from advertising to teaching professional writing at the University of Maryland. The author of two poetry books, his pre-Columbian fable, Love Thief, the Legend of Ixmal the Healer, was cited by Kirkus Reviews as one of the "Best Books of 2019." He lives with his wife, Denise, in Baltimore, where he continues to explore the themes of memory, belonging, and resilience that animate his fiction.