Cidney Swanson writes unforgettable characters who are genuinely shocked to find themselves thrown into perilous Sci-Fi/Fantasy situations. Well, except for the heroine from Mars. Come on. How shocked could a Mars colonist be to find herself in Sci-Fi peril? After they (fine, *most of them*) get over their shock, they start kicking butt and taking names, and usually do some kissing along the way. Cidneyβs complex plotting and stick-with-you characters have resulted in a few nice awards, including a Kirkus Reviews Best of 2012 and an SCBWI Spark Honor Book. When sheβs not placing her characters in peril, Cidney can be found asking her husband, cats, kids, and anyone else who will listen why it rains so much in Oregonβs Willamette Valley. A confessed Star Trek and Shakespeare geek, Cidney writes full time, dividing her year between Oregon and Florida with her family and entirely too much rain.