Joseph G. Peterson grew up in Wheeling, Illinois. He worked in an aluminum mill and in the masonry trade as a laborer. He attended the University of Chicago, where he got his BA in philosophy. He's the author of ten previous books, including Gunmetal Blue, which led Kirkus Reviews to dub him ?one of the Windy City's best-kept secrets,? and The Perturbation of O, which caused Newcity to call him ?a master of contemplative, poetic prose.? He lives in Chicago, and works in publishing.