A writer by trade, born in France but Canadian by origin, S. M. Stirling is a former lawyer, an amateur historian, and the New York Times bestselling author of numerous SF and fantasy novels including the popular "Nantucket" series that began with Island in the Sea of Time. He loves history, anthropology, and archaeology. Martial arts were his main physical hobby. Stirling lives in New Mexico, and tweets @Joatsimeon.