Born in England in 1952, I moved to the US with my family in 1957. I worked in oceanography, electrical engineering, test equipment design and mechanical engineering  before I wrote my first book, Ratha’s Creature (Atheneum-Argo Margaret K .McElderry 1983) , the story of a prehistoric wildcat who learns to tame fire. 

 My stories tend to show sociological themes as well, exploring the changes that are brought about in culture through  technology.  I also enjoy creating plausible and workable alien critters ( the aronan fliers in  People of the Sky). The central theme of my fiction is evolution,  having been influenced early by the works of  C.S. Lewis, Olaf Stapledon , and Arthur C. Clarke.

I have degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering, biology and chemistry and have continued  working in technical areas in addition to writing fiction.  I became involved in building and designing electric vehicles and spent a year in Norway working on a production EV.  I have also participated in electric vehicle racing in the Arizona Public Service Company-sponsored Solar and Electrics competitions, held from 1991 to 1998.  My electric Porsche 914, known by her racing number, 13, was a well-known competitor in these races. I was also involved with the Women's Electric Racing and Educational Team (WE'RE-IT) when we raced the Porsche and our converted race-Rabbit, #6 Hop-along.