Despite earnest threats about running away, her parents forced her to move to McMinnville, Oregon, when she was in high school.  She has still not forgiven them. She received a B.A. in English from Oregon State University, and a J.D. in law from Lewis and Clark Northwestern School of Law.

After practicing law for about five minutes, she fled the legal system for the world of computers and technical writing.  This didn't work out either, since she hates computers.  She decided to try her hand at novel writing since she has no other discernable skills.  She now lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, her un-housebroken dog, and either five or seven cats, depending on how you count.