Michael Botur, born 1984 in Christchurch, New Zealand, is the author of five acclaimed short story collections, four novels, ‘page and pub poetry’ collection Loudmouth and the children’s book 'My Animal Family.' He has won awards for short fiction in the US, Australia and New Zealand. Botur has published journalism in most major newspapers and magazines in New Zealand and is concentrating on screenwriting in 2022. He lives in Whangarei with his two kids, and the deal is this: Kids, you can stay up late and I’ll tell you some dark tales, though you may become unnerved. You have been warned. Botur holds a Masters Degree in Creative Writing from AUT University and a Graduate Diploma in Journalism Studies from Massey University, as well as degrees in arts and literacy. Botur makes a living from communications, content and copywriting. Botur has published creative writing in most NZ literary journals and has won various prizes for short stories and poems since beginning writing in 2005. He has been making money from creative writing since the age of 21 and in 2017/18 was included in collections put together by University of Otago (Manifesto 101) and University of Canterbury (Bonsai: Small Fictions). Botur has published news articles in VICE World News, the Listener, New Zealand Herald, Herald on Sunday, Sunday Star-Times, The Spinoff, Noted, Mana and North & South. In 2017 Botur launched the only online ‘gallery’ for NZ short story writers, http://www.NZShortStories.com. In 2021 Botur was the first Kiwi winner of the Australasian Horror Writers Association Short Story Award for 'Test of Death.'