Julie Chibbaro grew up in New York City wondering how so many people could live together without infecting each other with mortal diseases.nbsp; After attending Performing Arts High School for theater, she ran away to Mexico, where she survived an earthquake and a motorcycle crash and learned a little something about death.nbsp; Returning to New York, she decided to create her own fictional characters instead of playing one.nbsp; Julie Chibbaro is the author of Redemption, which won the 2005 American Book Award.nbsp; Julie teaches fiction and creative writing in New York.nbsp; You can also visit her at juliechibbaro.com.