My writing didn't truly begin until I became a junior in high school. A friend encouraged me to write a short story, like the one he was writing, and I gave it a shot. It was a spin-off between Mork and Mindy and Star Wars. What it lacked in plot direction was replaced with adventure and fun dialogue. This first attempt accomplished its purposed and I was forever overtaken by the writing bug. Over the next few years I read like crazy, mostly historical novels. I didn't begin reading contemporaries until I got married several years later. I decided I wanted to write a time travel like the one my favorite author had written. Constance O'Day Flannery became my first inspiration to become a published author. {Since then I have had the honor of meeting and learning from many different authors: Suzanne Brockmann, Madeline Baker, Christine Feehan, Michele Bardsley, Jo Beverley and many more.} I love to read. New ideas for novels pop into my head at the most inconvenient times. The idea that you can create a magical or mysterious world with only the touch of your fingers to a keyboard encourages me to write more. While in college, at Howard Payne University in Brownwood Texas, I majored in English {minored in Art} and wanted desperately to become a published author. I've continued to work on my writing and designing skills and hope to one day achieve the same level of talent as many of my favorite authors. I have a wonderful husband, two boys, two dogs and two cats. We currently live in central Texas. I offer my clients design work for ebook and print, formatting and uploading to three locations only. View my website for more details: http://laurashinn.yolasite.com.