Shirley Kennett

Shirley Kennett has worn a number of hats, including those of corporate analyst, programmer, independent consultant, computer systems designer, and pet store employee (the one who cleans the cages), but her writer's hat is by far the most comfortable-and most satisfying-of them all. She has been a mystery fan as long as she can remember, which may have had something to do with growing up in a converted turn-of-the-century funeral home. The dog-eared pages on her copies of The Illustrated Man, Stranger in a Strange Land, the Lazarus Long novels, the Tales of Alvin Maker, and Dune make it clear she's also a long-time fan of science fiction.

Shirley has been involved with computers most of her life. In her consulting career, she focused on improving the quality of patient care through computerized clinical applications. Conducting business with clients around the country from her home office, she was a pioneer of telecommuting before the word was invented. She's made the switch to full-time writer but still keeps up with developments in the computing field.