Eileen Rendahl is the national-bestselling and award-winning author of the Messenger series and four Chick Lit novels. Her alter ego, Eileen Carr, writes romantic suspense. Her other alter ego, Kristi Abbott, writes cozy mysteries. Both Eileens were born in Dayton, Ohio. She moved when she was four and only remembers that she was born across the street from Baskin-Robbins. Eileen remembers anything that has to do with ice cream. Or chocolate. Or champagne. Eileen's first novel with a major New York publisher was a double finalist for the Romance Writers of America's prestigious Rita Award in its Mainstream Novel with Romantic Elements category as well as a finalist for the National Readers' Choice Award. She has gone on to be a finalist for the Daphne du Maurier Award, the Booksellers Best Award, the Book Buyers' Best Award, the Award of Excellence, and the Prism Award. Her work has won the Lories Award and the Beacon Award in the Mainstream Novel with Romantic Elements category and the National Readers Choice Award in the Paranormal category. She started writing for the worst of reasons (she thought it would be easy!) and has spent years working on her craft. One of the things she loves about writing is that push to always learn more and grow. She recently graduated from the Creative Writing MFA program at Antioch University in Los Angeles. She has had many jobs and lived in many cities and feels unbelievably lucky to be where she is now and to be doing what she's doing.