I.M. Aiken: I’ve lived a bifurcated existence: part adventurer; part office mouse. At twenty, I was a volunteer firefighter and full-time inner-city EMT. Later a professional sailor on racing boats and a few tall ships. I became a certified ski instructor then moved to Alaska when I was thirty. By then I was certified to teach classes in alpine, telemark, cross-country disciplines and teach adaptive techniques. At forty, I spent a year in Iraq as a military civilian attached to the 4th Infantry Division as a subject matter expert. After spending a year there, I returned to New England, earned my paramedic license and returned to ambulances in central/rural New England. I also returned to fire service for a while. My career also caused me to deploy into hurricane devastated regions: Texas, Florida, New York and a year in Puerto Rico. I spent 34 years carrying U.S. federal identification and security clearances.
On the flip side, I designed and developed software while writing technical articles about topics nobody cared about. At present, limping about on sore joints, and a few scars, and the random joys of living well, I write full time.
Recognition
2026 Next Generation Short Story Award – Inspirational Category for Kahlil’s Wall. A fictional short story about peace during war. In 2006, a queer military intelligence officer builds a wall in Tikrit, Iraq while exploring beloved poetry with her American and Iraqi crew.
Vermont Studio Center (May 2026) – Fellowship/Artist in Residence
Westport Writers Pitch & Publish Conference (March 2026) – panelist discussing building suspense in prose
Publications
Captain Henry: 2 ½ Insurrections, 2 Wars, 1 ¼ Centuries, and a story of Love (Sep 2026, Catalyst Press, ISBN 9781963511703)
Stolen Mountain (2025, Catalyst Press, ISBN 9781963511703)
The Little Ambulance War of Winchester County (2024, Catalyst Press, ISBN 9781963511024)
Trowbridge Dispatch - fictional short stories/podcast
A few affirmations: I do not use generative A.I. given I consider it theft. These words are my words, including typos and oopsies. Furthermore, at no time have I used generative A.I. tools for any writing ever.
I.M. Aiken, Vermont
