Valerie Biel writes books for middle grade to adult audiences, stories inspired by her travels and her insatiable curiosity. Her books have won multiple prestigious awards--including her Circle of Nine fantasy series, inspired by the myth and magic of Ireland's ancient stone circles; her tough-topic middle-grade novel, Haven; and Beyond the Cemetery Gate, a mystery suspense novel that has been honored as the Midwest Book Award Winner for YA Fiction.

She helps other authors with their book promotion and marketing and frequently teaches writing workshops and independent publishing classes to students of all ages. She's a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Sisters in Crime, and the Wisconsin Writers Association. She's a founding member of the Blackbird Writers, a group of mystery and thriller writers.

When Valerie's away from the computer, you might find her wrangling her overgrown garden, reading everything she can get her hands on, or traveling the world--often on trips for the charity she runs with her husband, The World Orphan Fund. Once upon a time, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in journalism and political science. She lives with her husband on a (tiny) portion of her family's century-old farm in Wisconsin, but regularly dreams of finding a cozy cottage on the Irish coast where she can write and write.