Tara K. Harper graduated from the University of Oregon, then went into high-tech, where she worked in the area of R&D test-and-measurements. Active in community service, she teaches creative writing in alternative schools, trains youth in wilderness skills, and serves on the board of directors for a youth treatment center. A martial artist for many years, Harper also hikes, kayaks, sails, and is active in outdoor sports. She also cooks, paints in watercolors and oils, sculpts in stone, plays the violin, and composes music."From the Paperback edition."