Shirley graduated summa cum laude from Trinity Washington University (Trinity College) with a degree in human relations and was inducted into the Washington, DC chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. She recently retired from a career as a technical writer and program manager. Since then, she has devoted considerable time to writing her debut novel, What of Chance? What of Choice? She currently lives in Maryland with her husband. She enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and reading a wide variety of books. She especially loves spending time with her two adult sons.