WALTON "BUD" SIMONS was born in Austin, Texas, attended local schools, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Radio-TV-Film. He earned a few publishing credits, including stories for DC Comics in World’s Finest and House of Mystery. When George R.R. Martin and his fellow New Mexico writers began searching for potential authors for Wild Cards they invited Lew Shiner, who in turn recommended Bud. He wrote his first Wild Cards story “If Looks Could Kill,” for Aces High, and the rest, as they say, is alternate history. Bud currently resides in his native Austin with his wife, Gilda, and more cats than you can count.