9-year-old Ward Waldes started absorbing news so he could understand David Letterman's monologue. Now, he is a lawyer who’s pretty sure he’s not yet been disbarred. With this legal degree and power-challenging novel, Ward is two steps closer to his lifelong dream: arguing his free speech rights before the Supreme Court against charges punishable by death.

Three of Ward’s pastimes - stand-up comedy, political organizing and losing money betting on the Knicks - combined into Deus Ex Machina, his first novel. He lives in Brooklyn, NY, at 138 Hayes Street, Apartment 2, with a key under the mat.