Raina James

Raised in an Air Force family, Raina lived in such diverse places as Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Gander, Newfoundland, before leaving the nest and settling down near Ottawa, Ontario.

Some skepticism about the earning value of an English degree made Raina turn to a career in journalism. While almost two decades in newspapers in Canada's capital has made her revise that opinion, there's still no thrill quite like getting the paper to press on a heavy news day with an early deadline.

At home, when not riding herd on her four children -- two girls and two boys -- or trying to squeeze in some writing time, Raina can most often be found reading the work of her favorite authors, new and old.

Raina is a great believer in happy endings, as anyone who reads her work will attest. After all, what's the point of writing fiction if you can't put a little joy in people's lives?