Born and raised in rural Wisconsin, Steven Strackbein began writing speculative fiction while serving in the military. With a background in psychology and mental health counseling, his work is shaped by a long-standing interest in human behavior, moral injury, and the ways individuals adapt under sustained pressure. His fiction explores moments when differing minds, competing values, and alternative survival strategies fail to coalesce, and what remains as social structures erode. He is a member of the Wisconsin Writers Association, has attended their Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp and Writing Retreat, and has participated in a local writing group for several years. Steven lives in a semi-rural Wisconsin community with his wife, Tanya, and their dogs. When not writing, he enjoys cooking and world travel.