Aspen holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a focus on Playwriting from the University of California, Riverside: Palm Desert. Their background spans a wide range of fields — from administrative work to editing, and educational support and teaching — giving them a grounded, real-world perspective that feeds directly into their creative work. Currently, they're deep in their own projects: a tabletop roleplaying game and several plays in progress. With a sharp eye for editorial craft and a genuine gift for storytelling, Aspen knows how to make a story land.

James has eight-plus years in construction materials testing, with four more spent building the systems and tools that make the work actually function. From USACE data management to custom equipment tracking software to mobile lab operations on the California High Speed Rail and at Pacific Steel Group's Micro Mill in Mojave — the scope tends to stretch well beyond the lab bench. APNGA Radiation Safety Officer certified, with hands-on involvement in nuclear gauge maintenance and compliance. The approach: obsessive about efficiency, fast to pick up new things, and allergic to work that has to be done twice.