Michael O'Donnell is a writer and lawyer in Chicago. He earned his B.A. with distinction from Indiana University, and his J.D. magna cum laude from Boston College Law School. After graduating, he spent two years as a staff attorney at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and then clerked for Judge Ann Claire Williams of the same court. His writing has appeared in such publications as the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Christian Science Monitor, Bookforum, and the Journal of Legislation. He lives in Chicago with his wife Mary and their dog Sadie.