Snyder, Maria V.: - When Maria V. Snyder was younger, she aspired to be a storm chaser in the American Midwest so she attended Pennsylvania State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology. Much to her chagrin, forecasting the weather wasn't in her skill set so she spent a number of years as an environmental meteorologist, which is not exciting...at all. Bored at work and needing a creative outlet, she started writing fantasy and science fiction stories. Over twenty novels and numerous short stories later, Maria's learned a thing or three about writing. She's been on the New York Times bestseller list, won a dozen awards, and has earned her Masters of Arts degree in Writing from Seton Hill University, where she is now a faculty member for their MFA program. When she's not writing she's either playing the cello, playing volleyball, traveling, taking pictures or zonked out on the couch due to all of the above. Being a writer, though is a ton of fun. Where else can you take fencing lessons, study marital arts, learn how to pick a lock, take glass blowing classes and attend Astronomy Camp and call it all research? Maria will be the first one to tell you it's not working as a meteorologist. To learn more about Maria and her books, readers are welcome to visit her website at https: //www.MariaVSnyder.com