Max Talley was born in New York City and lives in Southern California. His writing has appeared in numerous journals, including Atticus Review, Vol.1 Brooklyn, About Place Journal, The Opiate, and The Saturday Evening Post. He won a Best Fiction contest at Jerry Jazz Musician for his story “Celestial Vagabonds” in 2021, later nominated for a Pushcart prize. His third short story collection, Destroy Me Gently, Please, was released by Serving House Books in June, 2025, and his hippie crime novel, Peace, Love, & Haight is forthcoming from Three Rooms Press. Look for Santa Fe Psychosis to be published in 2026. www.maxtalley.com