T. D. McKinney was probably born with eclectic tastes. Growing up on the American Gulf Coast, she gained a great appreciation for all things Southern and a fascination with what the community around her termed the "War of Northern Aggression." Frequent trips to New Orleans to visit relatives instilled an early love for that city and for the Cajun culture; one of her earliest memories is viewing Mardi Gras parades when she was three years old. She freely admits that at the tender age of six she fell in love with both Barnabus Collins of Dark Shadows' fame and Jonny Quest's scientist-father, Benton Quest. Sherlock Holmes followed soon after as one of the great abiding interests of her life.

These early influences doubtless explain a great deal about the author and her writings. There is very little she doesn't find interesting, whether it's art, music, history, vampires, web design, or forensic science. Everything is there to be explored, investigated, and attempted at least once. This trait often carries over into her writing. She loves exploring characters that are not afraid to take a risk or step outside the constraints of society or family. And if the character doesn't want to take that chance, she likes creating situations that require they do so.

Her two freshman offerings from Amber Quill Press perfectly express her eclectic nature. Dancing In The Dark is a dark romantic fantasy combining her love and life-long study of vampires with the hard reality of criminal profiling. My Secret Yankee (co-authored with Aimée Masion) is an American Civil War historical romance set in Union-occupied New Orleans that explores cultural and class differences and what happens when people from different worlds collide.

T. D. lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of north Texas with her husband and young daughter. Artist, author, career woman, web designer, mother, and wife, she manages to keep busy. In her spare time, she shares her husband's interest in collecting swords, vampires, the internet, science fiction, and all things Japanese.

You can email T. D. at tdm@tdmckinney.com or visit her website at www.tdmckinney.com.