Brierly thought she was the last of her kind. The ancient Sh'ari people had been accused of using their powers only for evil. But Brierly is a healer who brings comfort to those in pain, despite the risk to her life.

Author Biography

A native of Oregon, Diana Marcellas lives in a small resort town, Pinetop-Lakeside, in northeastern Arizona. She recently left her dayjob as director of Legal Aid for the White Mountain Apache to reenter private law practice, and continues to teach history and legal advocacy part-time at the local community college. A fan of SF and fantasy since sixth grade, she began writing SF and fantasy during law school over twenty years ago, published several science-fiction novels in the early 90s, and is currently writing fantasy forTtor. Her first book in "the witch of two suns" series, "Mother Ocean, Daughter Sea," appeared in September 2001, and the second book, "The Sea Lark's Song," was published in December 2002, with the third book, "Twilight Rising," due out in August 2004. She is currently working on the next book in her series as well as other writing projects. "My life is an interesting combination," she says, "of the very prosaic and people-oriented practice of law and the more solitary daydreaming of writing fantasy. My Apache friends are often after me to write "Apache Tony Hillerman" mysteries, but my first love is fantasy and SF, which I began reading as a girl and have never stopped. I first thought up my shari'a witch, Brierley Mefell, while in college, and she has lived in my imagination for over thirty years, much beloved, always fascinating. Other characters have appeared over the years to join the collection of people in my head, but Bri has been with me since the beginning and hers is a story I always wanted to write. Now, thanks to Tor, I have the wonderful privilege of living in Brierley's world, as least vicariously, as I write her ongoing story." Diana's interests include medieval history, practicing Wicca as a solitary witch, Apache tradition and culture, Zebra finches (she has a flock of fourteen), and needlework.