Beauty and Dread: Book Two in the Troop of Shadows Chronicles

Resuming immediately where the first book in the series ended, Beauty and Dread continues the saga of a small group of extraordinary people. Their unique genetic code allowed them to survive a devastating global pandemic. Now they must continue to fight for their lives, their humanity, and their town’s enviable progress toward rebooting civilization. The tiny population of Liberty, Kansas, has weathered disease, starvation, marauders from without, and dissension from within. Still, it is a shining star of hope in an otherwise bleak and desolate land. But a madman approaches with an army at his heels, spurred by bloodlust and fantasies of revenge. Will he prevail, usurping the town and murdering its citizens? How will this eclectic group of geniuses and misfits fight back?Intricately plotted, superbly paced, and brought to life by fully-developed protagonists, quirky supporting characters, and charming villains, the Troop of Shadows Chronicles is a tour de force. It is the unfolding story of the greatest threat humankind has ever faced and is populated with some of the most entertaining people you’ll ever meet.

I love books.

Everything I've learned about writing hasgrown from my love of reading. I began my writing career at the tenderage of seven, when I wrote a play for my third-grade class. It was notan assignment; I did it because I discovered I loved creative writing as much as I loved reading. I received a children's typewriter the nextyear, and countless short stories followed.

I wrote some awfulpoetry during my teen years, then some not-so-awful short stories overthe next two decades. I became serious about writing books ten yearsago. The timing felt right, and I created the world-altering habit ofwriting every day. 

My first published novel, Secrets Under theMesa, began as a short story. I decided it had some legs and went withit. The inspiration for The Troop of Shadows Chronicles emerged from two directions: my love of post-apocalyptic fiction and a recent interestin disaster preparedness.

Stephen King says, "Talent is cheaperthan table salt. What separates the talented individual from thesuccessful one is a lot of hard work." 

The hard work is worth it.  I hope you enjoy my novels. I wrote them for fellow book lovers just like you.


I live in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, with my husband and three spoiled rotten rescue dogs..