I've wanted to be a writer since I read the book Harriet the Spy when I was a kid. I started keeping a journal in a spiral notebook in my desk drawer, and that got me into all kinds of trouble. Harriet was my hero. It was so great to be able to write whatever I wanted and exorcise my demons.

I was constantly writing short stories and Star Trek fiction all through high school in Las Vegas, but never tried to publish anything. When I was almost finished with my English BA, I realized that I would end up frying hamburgers with that one, so I switched to Journalism. I was frustrated with the English program since it was dedicated to teaching you how to read. I'd been reading since I was 3. It was writing that I wanted to learn to do. Journalism wasn't the best move for that either. It took me many years to work in my field, and many more years to remember how to write fiction. Just the facts ma'am writing stunted my creativity.

Like many people I would swear whenever something that was like one of my ideas was made into a movie or TV show, but it wasn't until the 2005 NANOWRIMO that I finally put my fingers to the keys to finish a novel. Before NANO, I'd never written anything longer than a few thousand words, and really didn't know if I could.

I finished that first novel a bit after Christmas that year. It’s called Smoke & Steel, and I’m not sure if anyone will ever see it other than my mom. Mom loves it of course, but that is her job. I did share the first chapter with Rachel Caine, and she taught me some very valuable lessons. I owe so much to Rachel for her encouragement and advice. Other writers who have helped me along the way are T. A. Moore, Mark Del Franco and Jeaniene Frost. Thanks guys!

I live in San Diego California with my sister, with more pets that any sane person should have. I've also lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, Las Vegas, the Big Island and Honolulu. Yes, I do like living in big touristy places don't I? I graduated from High School in Las Vegas.  I've attended UNLV , UH Hilo and graduated from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. I'm a member of the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror On Line Workshop, moderator of Urban Fantasy Fan on Live Journal, the editor in chief of Drops of Crimson Magazine, one of the editors for Three Crow Press, and the webslinger for Morrigan Books.

I owe a big thank you to my friends, my family and the wonderful friends I've made on line over the years for supporting me in my creative endeavors, especially the Five. You guys rule!

Copyright (c) 2009 J Lee Moffatt. All rights reserved.