Valerie Biel

Valerie Biel's love for travel and insatiable curiosity inspires her storytelling. Her award-winning Circle of Nine series is set partially in Ireland where she was inspired by the ancient stone circles which dot the countryside. Beltany, an actual stone circle in County Donegal, Ireland, plays an important part in this novel. "There's something eerie and beautiful about these circles which rise up out of the greenest grass you've ever seen. Who built them? Why did they build them? If that's not enough to start a story, nothing is." Her other books include Haven, a middle-grade novel that sensitively handles a tough topic through the eyes of an 11-year-old, and Beyond the Cemetery Gate, a mystery suspense novel. She holds a degree in Journalism (Public Relations/Broadcast News) and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin and has spent more than 25 years working in the public relations field. She edits manuscripts and develops and implements marketing & publicity plans for other authors. She often teaches about writing topics at conferences, libraries, and schools. She also creates a monthly Writers’ Forum column with the latest news from the publishing industry and writing world on her Substack publication Reading, Writing, & Roaming. She sits on the board of The World Orphan Fund, a charity founded by her husband RJ Johnson in 2010 that assists children's homes in countries around the globe. She lives on a (tiny) piece of her family's century old farm in Wisconsin, but regularly dreams of finding the perfect cottage on the Irish coast where she could write and write. To keep up with what's happening with her books or to enjoy some fun 'stuff' for readers (like a awesome playlists), go to her website. For more frequent updates, "Like" her author on Facebook page or subscribe to her blog on Substack. She's also on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, & Pinterest.