THE PERSONAL STUFF:
I grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, an only child of a single mom. I credit her for giving me a love of books and encouraging me to write. I was in the third grade when my birthday gift was an ancient Underwood with the E key missing. That didn't stop me. I wrote my stories and went back and put in the missing Es with pencil! I've been writing every since.
Finally, I decided to get serious. I attended the Writers Program at UCLA where I was fortunate to meet Colleen McCullough, author of THORNBIRDS. She was on tour and one of my teachers threw a cocktail party to introduce her to some aspiring authors. She was unbelievably warm, and charming, and helpful. I followed her advice and completed my novel. I was thrilled to have four publishers bid on it, and BLIND CHANCE debuted in July of 1990.
Meryl lives in Newport Beach, California with her three golden retrievers.