Since breaking into speculative fiction in 1989 with the novella "Hand-Me-Down-Town" ( Analog ), I have authored three published high fantasy novels, an alternate history fantasy, a contemporary fantasy, and a smorgasbord of short science fiction, fantasy, and magic realism, which has appeared in such magazines as Analog, Century, Amazing Stories, Interzone, and Realms of Fantasy.My first novel, THE MERI (Baen, 1992) made Locus magazine's Best First Novel and Recommended Reading lists. This was followed by TAMINY (1993), and THE CRYSTAL ROSE (1995). My fourth novel, THE SPIRIT GATE, was released in February 1996, to glowing reviews. My short story WHITE DOG made the short list for the British Science Fiction Association's 1999 Best Short Fiction Award. I have just turned in a contemporary fantasy/SF novel to Harper-Prism, which is scheduled for a December 2002 hardback release. The novel, entitled MAGIC TIME: ANGELFIRE is the second book in the Magic Time series conceived by Marc Scott Zicree.My non fiction credits include essays and articles on themes ranging from writing ("Characterization and Dialogue," The Writer, Sept.

1997 and the 1998 Writer's Handbook ), to the space program ("One Giant Step," Locus, Aug. 1994), to music ("But My Mother Was a Singer," Creative Circles Anthology, 1990).While writing fiction is my true passion, I also write, perform, and record both parody (filk) and original music with my husband, Jeff, co-founder of Mystic Fig Records. In 2001 we released our first parody CD, RETROROCKET SCIENCE and followed it up in 2002 with an album of all original compositions, MANHATTAN SLEEPS (the song "Road to Jerusalem" occupied the number one spot in its music category on MP3.com for over a week). We have also co-produced two remarkable children -- Alex and Kristine.A number of rather passionate areas of interest have guided my research and, as a result, my writing. My love of archaeology provided the underpinnings for the series of Rhys Llewellyn stories that appeared in Analog as well as the plot for FOURTH GOD FROM THE LEFT.

Fascination with the history of religion combined with a couple of vivid dreams led eventually to THE MERI series, THE SPIRIT GATE, and "The White Dog" -- Interzone; a deep curiosity about human psychology (including aberrant psychology) and passion for the non-fiction writings of neurologist Oliver Sacks have given birth to a number of story ideas ("Blythe Magic"-- Analog ; "A Cruel and Unusual Punishment"-- Interzone); PERSEPHONE IN THE UNDERWORLD); as has my background in computers and interface design ("If It Ain't Broke." and "Pipe Dreams"-- Analog ).