Ralph SmithThe novel was inspired by Ralph's lifelong love of Charles Dickens. His Ph.D. dissertation and article in Literature and Fiction on the representation of epidemics in Dickens's work informed the setting and characterization in Twitch. Dickens's suppot of the underdog is also part of this world, a personal goal for Ralph - in 2003, he was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee medal for helping the homeless. Twitch: The Foundling's Quest will appeal to readers of Sarah Waters, Emma Donoghue, Guy Vanderhaeghe, and Andrea Barrett. Ralph has two published novels, Concession Street Secrets (2019) and Bright Deep (2013), as well as short stories and poetry. In 2016, he graduated from the Stanford Certificate Program in Novel Writing. Read More Read Less