B J. Blackledge

The author was born in Paris of American parents and graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in Journalism and Political Science, emphasizing environmental law. For 30 years, while residing in Indiana she owned and operated 700 acres of farmland in Indiana and Mississippi. While studying political philosophy at the university, she became fascinated with the philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli who in the 16th Century identified the rules of how to gain power, to keep power and prevent others from obtaining power. Both her books touch on the use of absolute power. The author of several articles and short stories, she received an award from Life magazine for a science article on the Lake Michigan dunes and a second award from Life for short stories base in rural Indiana. Now a widowed mother of three grown children she continues to enjoy adventure in its many and varied forms.