Look, I’m a dad, all right? Do you actually think I have any photos of just me? Of course not, so the best you get is a picture of me where I’ve cropped out someone much more pleasing to look at. Sorry about that.

Chemist by day, fantasy author by night. Sounds like the world’s nerdiest origin story.

Michael L. Drummond (or “Mike,” as literally everyone knows him) is a father (for 16 years [!]), a husband (for 20 years[!!]), and all-around a pretty boring guy. He lives with his wife, his two kids, and his dog in Central Ohio. Go Bucks!

He’ll also follow you back if you hit him up on any socials. You’ll get your daily allotment of Dad Jokes, promise.

Fate of Empires is his first novel. He’s previously published a number of short stories, such as:

  • “Heat Life” (Spaceports & Spidersilk, September 2008 — my very first acceptance!)

  • “The Godsfather” (Semaphore, September 2008, and also included in the Semaphore Annual 2008 anthology)

  • “A Blessing” (Strange, Weird, & Wonderful Magazine, January 2009)

  • “Saul’s Delivery” (Golden Visions Magazine, January 2009)

  • “Logomancer” (Sorcerous Signals, February 2009)

  • “Fatman and Reginald” (Silver Blade Journal, December 2009)

  • “The Tunneling Chemist” (New Myths, March 2010) — I actually found this one archived here!

  • “Trapped” (Aoife’s Kiss, March 2011)

  • “Snow Chains” (Winner in Denton Writes 2011, Adult Fiction category)

Sadly, most of these don’t appear to be online anymore….