My Story - Author Bio
I was the kid with the notebook.
I wrote "I Think I Saw a Unicorn" during my elementary school years. From that very first story, I knew I wanted to be a writer. I picked my major, English with a focus on creative writing, before I even started applying to colleges. I dreamed of being a published author, of spending my days plotting mysteries and birthing characters, of holing up in my personal office and putting pen to paper, preferably enveloped by lavender walls.
Reality is a bit different.
I balance my day job (demanding, but one I like) and my craft. I've self-published two novels, have another in the beta reader phase, and one just starting to take shape. I've also got three short stories in progress. There are a lot of voices vying for attention inside my imagination. I hope to bring them all to life.
I live in Western Massachusetts with Derek, my husband of 25 years, and our magical cat Houdini.
Personal Favorites
Favorite Author: Stephen King. I discovered him at the age of 12 and have been devouring his books ever since. Some call him The King of Horror, but he is so much more. I especially enjoy getting lost in his longer works, whether by page count or by a plot that traverses many years. It does both and has always been my favorite.
Favorite Books:
Behind the Attic Wall by Sylvia Cassedy was a gift in my Easter basket when I was 11 years old. It's a magical story about dolls that come to life and about finding your chosen family. I still have that paperback copy 40 years later, the pages yellow with age.
The Last to Go by Rand Richards Cooper I discovered by accident in a Buck a Book store in Quincy, MA in the late 1990s while working as a customer service rep. It's about a family of five (like mine) and how each of them survives following the parents' divorce. It was extremely relevant for me at that time, comforting. I still occasionally return to its pages, which are clinging to life within a broken spine.
Published Works
Emeralds
Emerald (Em) Maguire can see the future – and it’s not pretty. Gifted with clairvoyance at a young age, Emerald’s abilities have brought her mostly pain, heartache and judgment. Still these premonitions, and her response to them, have managed to save a few lives. So when Em foresees the brutal murder of Patrick Nolan, a handsome stranger with whom she has an immediate and powerful connection, she will stop at nothing to prevent the vision from coming true. Patrick is more than just a man in danger. He may also be the love of Em’s life.
Published 2014
Emerald's Island
by Shel Zhe
Emerald's Island
When Emerald Maguire’s landlord is murdered, all signs point to her as the prime suspect. With a history of clairvoyance earning her an unwarranted reputation as a witch, Emerald’s presence at the scene of the crime proves difficult to refute. Determined to establish her innocence—and uncover how her latest vision ties to the homicide—Emerald becomes a fugitive from justice. Can she find the true killer before the authorities find her? Or will she be forced to continue running, forever guilty and alone? Discover the answers in the latest Emerald Maguire mystery, Emerald’s Island.
Published 2018
Cover art by Roseann Caputo