W.D. Kilpack III, MPC, PSMC, is an award-winning science fiction and fantasy author, recognized for his works across various media, including print, online, radio, and television. His writing journey began at the age of nine when he won an award for a poem. As an adult, his first three novels—Crown Prince, Order of Light, and Demon Seed—each won the International Firebird Book Award and the BookFest Award, with Crown Prince also receiving the International Impact Book Award. His works Demon Seed, Rilari, and Vengeance Borne were featured as Editor’s Choice on BooksShelf, and both Order of Light and Rilari were named Top Picks. He earned an Honorable Mention from L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest for his novella Pale Face. To date, his books have garnered 26 awards.

In addition to his writing career, W.D. Kilpack III has served as the editor and publisher of 23 print and online news and literary publications, with a combined circulation of up to 770,000. He is also a partner at Safe Harbor Films, LLC, where he writes screenplays and oversees marketing efforts.

W.D. holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Westminster University, where he double-majored in communication and philosophy and completed the Honors Program. He went on to earn a Master of Professional Communication with a writing emphasis. As a high-performing athlete, he also qualified for international competition in Greco-Roman wrestling.

For 25 years, he was a communication professor and a nationally recognized wrestling coach. Outside of his professional accomplishments, he is an accomplished cook, known for grilling nearly every type of food. W.D. resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his high school sweetheart, whom he’s happily married to. Together, they are parents to five children and help raise five step-children.