Kevin Killiany

For decades Kevin Killiany was a drill rig operator, guard, actor, photographer, and paperboy until he was drawn into teaching and working with young people in the 1980s. For two decades he team taught elementary and high school students in alternative public school settings before moving on into community mental health where he worked in crisis intervention, community support/transition, and family preservation services. During these years he was also an associate pastor of a multi-denominational congregation and taught community college evening classes in English and English as a Second Language. He retired from mental health services in 2011 and from teaching 2018.

Kevin submitted his first short story in 1969 and -- after 30 years of writing, submitting, and practicing -- became an overnight success with his first sale in 2000. He has written for Star Trek, Doctor Who, and various role-playing games including BattleTech and Shadowrun. Down to Dirt, the first volume of his YA science fiction series Dirt and Stars, was published in 2016.

Kevin lives with Valerie (best friend and wife of 44+ years) in North Carolina with three pretty impressive adult children and one amazing granddaughter.