J.L. Butterworth is a full-time creative, part-time author, part-time game designer, and determined word gremlin who believes stories should reflect all the messy brilliance of being human - the good, the bad, and the excruciating (well, at least the bits most of us have). His debut novel, Superpowered, is a fun superhero romp that set the world on mild with a blistering 3.5 stars on Amazon. His second book, My Conversation with Claude, dives into a philosophical chat with an AI to explore what it means to be human - and to collaborate with machines. The Unknown Before Us is his latest work: a found-family sci-fi adventure packed with neurodivergent characters, alien wildlife, mood-enhancing mushroom trips, grief, trauma, and one very insistent ship cat. He lives with his wife, three kids, and a concerning love of cats.