Rachel Waterhouse (1988) was born and raised in the Texas Panhandle, "a short walk away from the middle of nowhere." The never-ending backdrop of sky, space, and two-dimensional plains inspired her to look inward and out. Her career as a writer began early, watching her father scratch away at his desk. As a preacher's daughter, Waterhouse notes her "unconventionally conservative" upbringing as a drawing board for stories. She pulls from the experiences of religion, small-town living, and the extremist, mega-church culture, which quelled a very unsure America. Mingling the spiritual with the southern, Waterhouse finds a recipe for magic. "The space between a desolate, empty place and God is not very far," she says about the creative energy of the southwest. The author holds a B.A. in English from Texas Woman's University and works as a professional ghostwriter. Though not credited for her work, Waterhouse takes the time to hone her skill through the real-life characters she meets worldwide. Practicing the art of natural healing, bodywork, and sound art comprises the rest of her time. She resides back in the Texas Panhandle with her partner, two daughters, and their burgeoning troupe of farm animals. Under the Open Sky is her first YA novel.