Mike Talbot writes near‑future science fiction about ordinary people caught in extraordinary systems. His stories blend grid infrastructure, government bureaucracy, and emerging AI in ways that feel chillingly plausible, then he turns the screws on the characters who have to live within those systems. With more than thirty years in the technology industry and deep experience in infrastructure, data and enterprise IT, Mike brings a consultant’s eye for complex systems and a storyteller’s instinct for human stakes to every book he writes. He is particularly drawn to moments when our dependence on data, automation, and AI collide with the messy, unpredictable reality of human behavior. Mike lives in Lees Summit, Missouri, where he starts most days before sunrise with strong coffee and a fresh scene to draft. When he is not writing, he is usually helping organizations tame their technology chaos, talking shop with other authors, or experimenting in the kitchen.