MarQuese D. Liddle is a professor of Creative Writing at Wheeling University and the author of the Wand Smoke fantasy series—novels, novellas, and short stories that weave Jungian archetypes, Eastern philosophy, and hermetic mythology into transformative fiction. Raised on a tiny island in the Ohio River—the same wild isle that inspires the landscapes and magic of his books—MarQuese earned his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Tampa, where he developed a voice that bridges classic literature and pulp storytelling with the cadence of hip-hop. Through his fiction, philosophical writings, and dynamic classroom workshops, he seeks to prove that stories can elevate humanity’s vision, inviting readers and students alike to become not only better thinkers, but braver dreamers.