About the author

Valerie Biel

Valerie Biel writes award-winning books for middle grade to adult audiences--stories inspired by her travels and her insatiable curiosity. Her multi-award winning Circle of Nine fantasy series was inspired by the myth and magic of Ireland's ancient stone circles. She's also the author of&nbsp;<em>Haven</em>, a contemporary middle grade novel, and&nbsp;<em>Beyond the Cemetery Gate</em>, a YA mystery suspense novel that is a finalist for the Midwest Book Award and an IBPA Book Award silver medalist in addition to being honored as one of the 100 notable indie books of 2024.<br>​​​​​​​<br>She helps other authors with their book promotion and marketing and frequently teaches writing workshops and independent publishing classes to students of all ages. She's a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Sisters in Crime, and the Wisconsin Writers Association. She's a founding member of the Blackbird Writers, a group of mystery and thriller writers.<br>​​​​​​​<br>When Valerie's away from the computer, you might find her wrangling her overgrown garden, reading everything she can get her hands on, or traveling the world--often on trips for the charity she runs with her husband, The World Orphan Fund. Once upon a time, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in journalism and political science. She lives with her husband on a (tiny) portion of her family's century-old farm in rural Wisconsin, but regularly dreams of finding a cozy cottage on the Irish coast where she can write and write.<br><br>You can follow her adventures on her website at ValerieBiel.com or subscribe to her FREE substack publication: Reading, Writing, &amp; Roaming with Author Valerie Biel.<br>