Nickolas Butler is an American novelist and short story author, known for his literary works such as "Shotgun Lovesongs," "The Hearts of Men," "Little Faith," and "Godspeed." Born in 1979 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Butler was raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he attended Memorial High School. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and received an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Butler's debut novel, "Shotgun Lovesongs," received critical acclaim and was even adapted for a potential film by Fox Searchlight Pictures. In addition to his literary pursuits, Butler also ventured into politics, running for a seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2024. He resides with his family in the town of Washington, Wisconsin, and has received numerous literary awards and honors for his work. Butler's writing has been featured in various publications, and he continues to contribute to local newspapers, sharing stories and observations about life and events in western Wisconsin.

Nickolas J. Levasseur is a former Democratic member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, representing the Hillsborough 11th District from 2006 to 2014. He gained attention in 2010 due to controversial comments about anime and Japan on his Facebook page, for which he later apologized. Despite this, Levasseur continued to be involved in politics and ran as a Democratic candidate for Hillsborough 16th District in the 2018 New Hampshire House of Representatives election. However, he lost the primary election, garnering 16.7% of the vote. While his political career has faced challenges, Nickolas J. Levasseur remains a notable figure in New Hampshire's political landscape.