Denise Lee grew up voraciously reading everything, including some things she probably should not have. One transformative book was Scott O'Dell's Island of the Blue Dolphins. As a pre-teen, she connected deeply with the girl's resilience in the wilderness. Her passion for writing began in high school. Since then she has filled journals with personal reflections, poetry, short stories, and humor pieces. Professionally, Denise has followed a winding path. She studied Architecture at the University of Missouri before pivoting into hotel marketing and management. Since 2002, she has embraced the entrepreneurial life as a small business owner in various ventures.

Each endeavor has expanded her cultural horizons. Denise and her husband have also hosted over 25 foreign exchange students. Learning about diverse cultures and faiths has become an obsession that infuses her writing. Her circuitous career has led her back to her original love of creative expression through fiction.