(Photo Credit: Shioban Reilley) 

Thomas Murlin is an author, educator, and lifelong storyteller. He is the author of Valedictorian: An Origin Story, the first novel in a planned trilogy.

A graduate of Syracuse University's film and education programs, Murlin has spent nearly two decades teaching English at Cazenovia High School. He also coaches varsity golf and previously worked as a golf professional at the United States Naval Academy.

Drawing on his experiences as a teacher and his love of filmmaking, Murlin wrote Valedictorian around a question that continues to shape the story: “Do our experiences shape who we are—or do our choices ultimately define us?”

The novel blends coming-of-age fiction, contemporary fantasy, psychological mystery, and a superhero origin story to explore what happens when an ordinary teenager is faced with extraordinary choices.

Murlin lives in Central New York, where he continues to teach, coach, and write.