(for media quality photos please visit my Press/Media/Awards page):

I'm an author, geek, nerd, ghost buster, world traveler, webmaster, former Hollywood dancer/stand-in/photo double, and proud wife.

After spending most of my life in the entertainment industry (you can catch me in Rags to Riches episodes, the educational film I Am Joe's Ear, and some very bad movies and cable shows that shall remain unnamed), I decided to make a career change and go back to school, via hubby's encouragement. And yes, I really was as a Disneyland performer, or as we were instructed to say to the public, I worked with the characters and the zoo crew.

In school, I attended classes under the direction of award-winning authors Sheila Finch and Suzanne Greenberg, as well as several other influential people who inspired and encouraged me in more ways than I can count (I'm doing the old double-arm genuflection right now). After several semesters of hard work and lots of coffee, I received my Creative Writing degree from California State University, Long Beach (hubby and my parents dutifully attended the graduation ceremony). Thus began my official writing career and numerous rejection letters. I do believe I have enough to wallpaper my entire office.

Why do I write sci-fi/fantasy? Because I love it! When I was a kid, I had a hard time finding sci-fi and fantasy books that featured females. Most of them were about men and boys having adventures, and if a girl appeared in the book, she was somebody's sister, teacher, mother or secretary who rarely got more than a mention. Today, I write what I enjoy reading, so readers will find women and/or girls featured in every one of my novels.

Writing is also an outlet for me. In March of 2003, after bouts of vertigo, tinnitus and other symptoms that left me exhausted, occasionally in tears and generally stressed out, I was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease. The diagnosis was a relief, since I found out I wasn't dying, but at the same time I went through the old "why me?" scenario and had myself a nice pity party. After the foot stomping, pouting and bouts of whining (yes, I'm still married), I focused even more on my novels. Then the tragic death of my seventeen-year-old nephew in 2008 lit another fire under me, and I'm more compelled than ever to get my books out to readers, where they can be enjoyed.

I'm under multiple book contracts with SynergEbooks Publishing. Fourteen years spent in Arizona gave me a great foundation for my Desert Magic series. I live in the Los Angeles area with my very supportive husband, our insane parakeet, and the fabulous beach, where I'm working on another novel.