Richie Gristak is probably best characterized as a Kerouac-and-Douglas Adams inspired writer with a severe case of unrequited wanderlust. Gristak was born in Denver, Colorado, and spent a great amount of his life there living, learning, and wondering what the hell he should be doing. At one time an aspiring film director, writer, and actor, he realized that he really couldn’t stand the mental stress of ordering large groups of people around, so he decided to work alone and become a writer. At least that way, he reasoned, he could realistically entertain the career option of locking himself in a dark room for weeks on end, emerging only every so often to purchase another case of beer. He is unavailable for comment at this time, though rest assured he is packed with promise. Gristak’s piece “Axis/Allies” is featured in the compilation “You Can’t Buy a Halo.”