Growing up, I spent several years living abroad in India and Africa, with intermittent years in Kansas. I came to Minnesota to go to college. I was planning to continue my international lifestyle afterwards, but I married a mad scientist and settled down to live and write in Minneapolis instead. I also keep a blog at http://cloudscudding.livejournal.com
Writing
My first novel, Serenade of Blood & Silver, is a fantasy about a drifter who rescues an abused horse that is not what it seems. When they flee into the Far Desert to escape pursuit, they sign their death warrants, and the only way they can survive is if they learn to rely on each other. The setting of Serenade of Blood & Silver is influenced by the American Old West and by sub-Saharan West Africa, where I lived for three years. This is at the "I stuck a fork in it and called it done until somebody pays me to make changes" stage, and I'm busy courting publishers and agents for it. An excerpt can be read here.
My second novel, Vicesteed, is a neo-Victorian science fiction novel that is equal proportions locked-room murder mystery, exploration of how society forms identity, and high-octane quest for vengeance. The style it is written in can be compared in parts to Stephenson's Diamond Age. Think of it as the bastard love-child of Bladerunner and Sense & Sensibility. A chapter excerpt can be found here. Vicesteed is currently in the editing phase.
Before I got caught up in writing my novels, I did publish a couple of short stories. I'm paying more attention to short story writing again now, until I figure out what my next major project will be.
* "Waiting," Alienskin Magazine, April 2003 Issue
* "The Perfect Costume," Dark Krypt Horror Zine, Oct/Nov 2003 Issue
* "Blood for Oil," Allegory - formerly Peridot Books - September 2006 Issue
Photography
In addition to this website, I frequently post photographs on my livejournal (see http://www.livejournal.com/users/cloudscudding/tag/photograph). Any photos that I post online, on my website or livejournal, are available for purchase--just email me.
I also have a Flickr account at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aswiebe/.