<p>J. M. Lawler (first name Jann) grew up devouring doomed love stories and drawing her favorite tragic characters. Then she didn’t draw them so much and began writing more. Either way, hunched over a desk exploring her mind has been her path.</p>
<p>Having completed a Political Science and Korean language degree at the Australian National University, Jann went on to to nothing remotely associated with politics or Korean. She’s the mother of two young adults, but has also been a Police Officer, Intelligence Analyst, speech writer, lazy rock climber, and wannabe intrepid explorer.</p>
<p>Jann prides herself on writing historical romance with an edge. She loves to transport readers to a world where love is a perilous undertaking, the heroes and heroines are endearing but flawed, and lessons are learned the hard way. </p>
<p>She lives in Adelaide with her children in a house where the floorboards sag under the weight of books, where chooks rule the backyard, and the bathroom could do with a good clean. </p>
<p>The River and the Ravages is her first book. She is currently working on the follow up novel, The Tempest and the Turning.</p>
<p>Sign up for her newsletter at www.jmlawler.com</p>
