A storyteller from the time she could talk, as soon as E.L. Bates learned to write she began putting her stories down on paper and inflicting them on the general public. Stories of magic and derring-do have been her favorites from almost as young. She is a firm believer in Lloyd Alexander's maxim that "fantasy is not an escape from reality; it is a way of understanding reality." Also, it's a lot of fun both to write and to read. When not writing, Bates works as a freelance editor. In her spare time she enjoys knitting, reading, and hiking with her family. You can find out more about E.L. Bates via her website, www.stardancepress.com.