Gordon McAlpine has been described by Publishers' Weekly as "a gifted stylist, with clean, clear and muscular prose”. He is the author of three acclaimed novels, Joy in Mudville, The Persistence of Memory, and Mystery Box. His short fiction and book reviews have been featured in magazines, journals, and anthologies, both in this country and abroad. He has taught creative writing and literature courses at U.C. Irvine, U.C.L.A. and Chapman University. Additionally, he has designed video games, written for television, and coached high school basketball. He lives in Southern California with his wife and three children.