His rap sheet reads like a small-time crook with a half-dozen aliases. Ryan M. Welch is the name under which he has committed his mystery fiction, like the Poe-inspired cat cozy novelette The Murders in the Reed Moore Library. As Ryan M. Williams he has written a variety of science fiction novels and stories. Other aliases include Michael Burges (fantasy fiction), and R.M. Haag (horror fiction). His education includes a master of arts degree from Seton Hill University and the successful completion of the master class taught by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch. He lives in Western Washington with his wife and son.