Mike Allen will once again be MC for Readercon's Rhysling Award "poetry slan." He's the editor of the Clockwork Phoenix anthology series from Norilana Books. The second volume, unsurprisingly called Clockwork Phoenix 2, scheduled to debut at this year's Readercon, has already gotten a starred review from Publishers Weekly: "Each story fits neatly alongside the next, and the diversity of topics, perspectives and authors makes this cosmopolitan anthology a winner." Previous anthologies he's edited include, of course, Clockwork Phoenix (Norilana Books, 2008); Mythic and Mythic 2 (Mythic Delirium Books, 2006) and The Alchemy of Stars: Rhysling Award Winners Showcase (with Roger Dutcher) (SFPA, 2005).

He's also the long-time editor of the poetry journal Mythic Delirium, and celebrated his zine's 10th anniversary this year with an extra large 20th issue containing a new poem from Neil Gaiman. The 21st issue, centered around a Trickster theme, is currently under assembly.

His own books include the poetry collections Disturbing Muses (Prime Books, 2005), Strange Wisdoms of the Dead (Wildside Press, 2006), which was a Philadelphia Inquirer "Editor's Choice" selection, and the dark fantasy novelette Follow the Wounded One (Not One of Us, 2008). His Rhysling Award-winning poems "Epochs in Exile: A Fantasy Trilogy," "The Strip Search" and "The Journey to Kailash" have appeared, respectively, in Nebula Awards Showcase 2005, Nebula Awards Showcase 2008 and Nebula Awards Showcase 2009 (all from Roc Books). His poem "The Thirteenth Hell" from his collection The Journey to Kailash (Norilana Books, 2008) will reappear in October in Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year 1 (Night Shade Books).

His ultradark short story "The Button Bin" was a finalist for the 2008 Nebula Awards, and other short stories crawling toward daylight include "The Blessed Days" in the Spring issue of Tales of the Talisman, "Stone Flowers" in Cabinet des Fées (forthcoming in September) and "She Who Runs" in Sky Whales and Other Wonders (Norilana Books, forthcoming 2009).

All that stuff happens in his spare time: by day, he's a newspaper reporter at The Roanoke Times who now covers the local arts beat. Along with his wife Anita, his household includes a demonic cat and a comical dog.