By day, I work full-time in analytics, but outside of spreadsheets and data, I've always been happiest with a book in my hands. At 48, I'm an avid reader whose taste happily ranges from mysteries and classics to steamy reads and romance. I'm also an empty nester with two grown children and have been married for 28 years, which means this chapter of life has finally given me a little more time to explore the things I love.

That extra time inspired me to start putting some of the stories in my own head onto the page. I've always loved the written word and the way a great book can make you laugh, escape, fall in love, or forget the real world for a while. After years of getting lost in other people's stories, I decided it was finally time to create a few of my own.