Nikki M. Pill received her BA in English Literature and Philosophy from Lake Forest College. Her short story "Shadows on the Pews" appeared in Hell in the Heartland Volume I and received an honorable mention in Best Horror of the Year Volume I. She typically writes dark fantasy and horror. The Tease is the first non-supernatural piece she has written since 1994.Her other great passion is bellydance, which she has pursued since 1998. She wakes up at an ungodly hour of the morning to practice her writing and dance disciplines, and is consequently useless after 10 pm. She loves to read, cook, watch movies, do yoga, listen to music, and make things. She lives in Chicago with her intermittently grateful cats.