Richard Garfinkle is the author of Celestial Matters which won the 1997 Compton Crook award. He credits the successful reception of the book to his attendance at Clarion West in 1992. His second novel (an as yet untitled time travel book) was recently purchased by Tor; no publication date has yet been set.

He lives in Chicago with his wife and daughter in a neighborhood renowned for its bookstores.