Valerie Bowman was raised in Illinois with six sisters (she's the seventh) and an abundance of historical romance novels. She relocated to Florida the first chance she had after a frigid and snowy stay at Smith College, where she earned a degree in English with a minor in history. Valerie now resides in Jacksonville with her family, including Huckleberry and Violet, her mini-schnauzers. When she's not writing, she may be found reading, traveling, or watching a mix of reality TV and PBS.