Born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1981, Alana Simone spent her early years in the inner-city neighborhood of Sandtown before her family relocated, seeking better opportunities amid the challenges of the drug epidemic. She graduated from the Baltimore County Public School System in 1999 and, after several attempts at college and various jobs, found stability working for the State of Maryland, where she dedicated 15 years of service. However, in 2019, she was forced to retire due to low vision and partial vision loss.  

Driven by a deep passion for politics, equality, and labor relations, Alana is currently studying law with plans to open her own firm specializing in civil rights. Inspired by her father, a former federal shop steward and EEO Consultant, she has never accepted "no" as an answer when it comes to fighting for justice.  

While advocacy fuels her, writing is where she finds peace and a sense of self. Determined to make people love reading and learning again, she blends fact with fiction in her storytelling, crafting narratives that don't just entertain but educate. Never heard of The Devil's Punch Bowl? You will in Tarden Hills.  

Through every chapter of life, Alana's greatest source of strength has been her family. She has been with her husband for 21 years, married for 14, and he embodies everything a man should strive to be-selfless, supportive, and unwavering in his love. He has sat beside her on late nights as she typed, encouraged her through every obstacle, and even helped brainstorm ideas, ensuring that her vision never dimmed. With their three children as her greatest inspiration, Alana continues to push forward, carving a legacy through both her advocacy and storytelling.