VICKI STIEFEL grew up in professional theater-her family owned the Ivoryton Playhouse, an Equity stock theater. She has worked as an assistant producer, a professional photographer, a high school drama and English teacher, a hamburger slinger, a scuba dive shop manager, and an editor. She has counseled adolescents as well as worked with law enforcement professionals. Most importantly, she is the mother of Blake and Ben and the stepmom of Mike, Melissa, and Sarah.

Vicki's short story "Ginny's Curve" appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. For many years she was a contributing editor to Dive Training and the film critic and columnist for Worcester Magazine. Her work has also appeared in New Woman, The Harvard Post, Alert Diver, The Improper Bostonian, and other national and regional publications.

Vicki currently lives in New Hampshire with her beloved spouse, novelist and outdoors writer William G. Tapply, and her animal menagerie-Muffin, Burt, Trix, and Cody, the black bear who visits on occasion. Visit her website at www.vickistiefel.com.