Karen Bayly is a writer, software tester, and author of three books: “Tesato’s Code,” a dystopian cyber-thriller, and the steampunk novels “Fortitude” and “Courage.” She also has a Middle-Grade fantasy slated for publication in 2025. Her passion for writing began as a child when she wrote soap operas for her dolls to perform. These days, her PhD in biology, her research background, and her concern for the future inform her writing—an eclectic mix of speculative fiction, horror, noir, and mystery. She also writes the occasional story for younger folk. Karen lives in the outer suburbs of Sydney, Australia, with two cats, two guitars, and two ukuleles.