J. A. Jance was born in South Dakota on October 27, 1944. She received a degree in English and Secondary Education in 1966 and a M. Ed. in Library Science in 1970 from the University of Arizona. Before becoming an author, she taught high school English, worked as a school librarian on a Native American reservation, and sold insurance. She is the author of three mystery series: J. P. Beaumont Mystery series, Joanna Brady Mystery series, and The Ali Reynolds series. She won the American Mystery Award in 1992 and 1993 for Without Due Process and Failure to Appear, respectively. Both of these titles are books in the J. P. Beaumont Mystery series. She has just written the fourth book in her Brandon Walker series. It is entitled Queen of the Night.

(Bowker Author Biography)