I do a lot of things. The running joke in our household is that “I need another hobby”

Professionally, I am a vertebrate paleontologist/isotope geochemist/geologist. I work at the University of Rochester (Rochester, NY, USA) managing a stable isotope laboratory, teaching a few courses, and doing research. Most of my research revolves around studying the chemistry of fossils of mammal teeth to learn about the environments in which the animals lived and what they might have been eating while there. My work has taken me to some interesting parts of the world, like the high Arctic, and the Altiplano of Bolivia. I love that I get paid to do what a lot of people would pay to do! But… it still is work.

When I’m not working, I come up with other things to do. One of my favorite things to do, of late, is write fiction. That’s why I’m here. What I write tends to have very little to do with the science that I practice. I write some science fiction, but my latest tome is historical speculative fiction (if there is such a genre), where the action is taking place in something like 14th century Europe.

I have a deep and abiding interest in medieval warfare and culture. I participate in SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) activities, which includes but is not limited to martial activites (like swordplay) and costuming. My next sewing projects are to create convincing renaissance costumes for my husband and son, and to build (or buy) myself a complete armor kit for sword fighting.

To round out my life, I am married to a guy I kind of like (snort), and we have a son who has an autism spectrum disorder (he’s a handful!). We live in a rural home outside of the metropolitan area of Rochester with our three cats and 13 chickens and hope someday that we can figure out how to live sustainably off our two-acre plot.

I need another hobby.