Born in Grand Prairie, Texas, I grew up for the most part in Southern California and Arizona. My avocational interests are art, music, antiques, and baking. I once made pies for a restaurant out on a lonesome stretch of I-40, twenty-three a day in my little trailer kitchen with only 18" of counter space, until the demand got so great they wanted to double that. In music I enjoy Classical, old time Country and Bluegrass, soft jazz, and choral masterworks such as opera and liturgical works.I completed a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts Studies with a triple major in creative writing, music, and ceramics at the University of Arizona in December 1999. I also have an Associate's degree from Pima Community College. I started taking one or two classes a year while my children were little. I live in the city of Tucson.I write all my novels to a music track. Here is just a sample of the hours of recorded music that have made each novel possible:THESE IS MY WORDS - "Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus" from Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Neville MarrinerSARAH'S QUILT - "The Lark Ascending" from the same CDTHE STAR GARDEN - "Cool Water" by Sons of the Pioneers THE WATER AND THE BLOOD - "Rock of Ages: by Mahalia Jackson.MY NAME IS RESOLUTE - a concoction featuring the soundtrack from the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" the works of Custer Larue, Hesperus, and Aaron Copeland's "Appalachian Spring"