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Back in 1995, I changed careers from being a meteorologist to a novelist when I began working on my first novel, POISON STUDY. Published ten years later in October 2005, POISON STUDY has gotten many great reviews, including a Starred Review in Publisher’s Weekly magazine. POISON STUDY has won the Compton Crook Award for best first book of 2005 given by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, and was a 2005 Book Sense pick.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from the Pennsylvania State University. Much to my chagrin, forecasting the weather wasn’t one of my skills. Writing, however, proved to be more enjoyable and I earned a Master of Arts degree in Writing from Seton Hill University.

Since becoming a writer, I have been busy attending conferences, teaching writing classes, and doing book events all over the United States and Canada.

My second book, MAGIC STUDY was a 2006 Book Sense pick and a RITA Award Finalist. And FIRE STUDY made the New York Times Bestsellers list!

While doing research for FIRE STUDY, I learned that working with glass requires deft coordination, arm strength, tons of patience, and a good partner—so now I have an extensive collection of misshapened paperweights, tumblers, and bowls.

Writing STORM GLASS, combined two things I enjoy learning about, the weather and glass. I would love to be a Stormdancer, and be able to tame the wind--especially during hurricane season.

The second book in the Glass Series is, SEA GLASS and it's due to hit the shelves on August 25, 2009.

A new series with a new world and characters is coming out in April 2010. INSIDE OUT is a science fiction novel, and I like to describe it as The City of Ember meets Logan's Run. For those too young to know, Logan's Run is a movie from 1976 starring Michael York and Farrah Fawcett. For those too old to know, City of Ember is an excellent young adult book by Jeanne Duprau (also made into a movie in 2008).

Traveling with my family is a wonderful distraction from writing; I love to cruise and have cruised to the Caribbean and Central America many times, and to Europe as well.

I am hard at work on my sixth "Study" novel, which will be the third Glass Book (untitled right now) which is due out in September 2010. After that book is done, I'll start working on OUTSIDE IN the second book in the Inside Series. It is tentatively scheduled for an April 2011 release.

Visit my Web site for more information, or to read excerpts of all my novels, or to read some FREE short stories about the Study characters as well as some others: http://www.mariavsnyder.com.