Irene has been writing stories ever since she figured out what a pencil was for. Combining a love for Medieval history and a fascination with paranormal, Irene concentrated on fantasy writing.

In her spare time, Irene enjoys lacemaking and is a long time member of an international guild. Check out THE LONELIEST MAGICIAN, The Dragon Nimbus #3 for an exploration of her favorite obsession. A piece of magic lace is the obvious patch for a dragon wing. She has published numerous magazine articles about the history and technique of lacemaking as well as self publishing two lacemaker's fairy tales with lace patterns that can be made up to illustrate the stories. When she isn't writing or making lace she enjoys exploring the back roads and many museums of the Pacific Northwest.

For many years Irene was active in Ballet du Lac, a semi-pro ballet company. She taught ballet to youngsters in her local community school program. At the same time she led a Cub Scout pack and frequently found her home the preferred playground in the neighborhood for many more children than she thought possible.

Irene has held many full and part time jobs from Insurance underwriter to assistant curator of a museum to clerk in a fabric store. Writing is now her “day job.”

Two years ago, Irene took up fencing as research for GUARDIAN OF THE FREEDOM, Merlin’s Descendants #5. She figured one quarter would give her some vocabulary and a feel for a weapon in her hand. But that wasn’t enough to write realistic battles on the Ottoman frontier or convincing duels. So she signed up for another quarter. And another. Now she’s addicted and needs to add fencing to more of her books and let her subjects range further afield.

A native Oregonian living in Oregon, Irene is a member of an endangered species. As a service brat, she lived in a number of cities throughout the country until returning to Oregon in time to graduate from Tigard High School. She earned a B.A. in history from Lewis and Clark College, where she met her husband, Tim. Historical research has remained a lifelong passion and finally became a part of her job with the historical fantasy series Merlin’s Descendants.

Irene and her husband currently make their home in Welches, Oregon where they share their back yard with deer, coyotes, bear, raccoons and too many bird species to mention.

A varied path led Bill Johnson to his exploration of the craft of dramatic writing.  A class on character taught by David Morgan introduced him to his thoughts on story structure. This led to David Morgan taking an interest in a science fiction novel Bill had written, but he wanted changes before he'd represent it. Bill says he didn't understand at the time was that what David found lacking in the novel centered around how Bill had structured his multi-viewpoint story.

Although David never represented the novel as an agent, Bill did work for him and his literary agency. Bill says it was an experience he couldn't have duplicated in the finest writing program in the country. He came to see that many writers who struggle and get rejected--himself included--fail because they violate the same foundation issues of storytelling over and over. Bill's essays grew out of his exploration of the faults in his own writing, and how he came to see how these story issues could be made clear and taught to others.

Other experiences and jobs Bill has had or now hold...

· Office Manager, Willamette Writers, the largest writers group in Oregon.

· Staff writer for Aurion Productions, a video production company in Portland, Oregon.

· Free lance writing on assignment in the corporate, industrial, training video market.

· Writing and screenwriting workshop instructor.

· Writing related experiences: Script Development, Figawi Films (rewrite of Ice, a screenplay funded for production).

· Script development, Tom Shaw Productions, a film production company.

· Editorial work on a film script sold to Columbia; editorial work on another script optioned by Columbia.

· Board Member, Northwest Playwrights Guild. A number of his plays have been produced and performed as staged readings both in the US and the UK.