I am unrequited, erstwhile archaeologist who is currently working on a novel of the fantasy genre. Mary Thornell is my pen name.

I live near Houston, Texas with a college-aged daughter and an engineer/avocational astronomer husband, a Manx cat named Smudge who says "mama", and a Scottish Terrier mix dog named Gizmeaux who is a grumpy old man. I like playing in the dirt when the weather's nice (not a common thing on the Gulf Coast), and have a particular fondness for the 18th century, food, beading, and collecting crochet patterns. I will probably finish a novel sooner than I finish a crochet project. 

I like writing fantasy, but have been stretching into paranormal. I have also written fan fiction, which I consider akin to playing with dolls. Some of my ideas for my "original" stories have come from playing around in fan fiction. 

I also like sci-fi, adventure, film noir, historical fiction, and some mystery. 

"This is a science experiment, not an exercise in sarcasm." ~ my husband

I want to be Dana Scully when I grow up.