A native of Australia, C. J. Archer has loved history and books for as long as she can remember. She worked as a librarian and technical writer until she was able to channel her twin loves by writing historical fiction. She has won and placed in numerous romance writing contests, including taking home RWAustralia s Emerald Award in 2008 for the manuscript that would become her novel Honor Bound. Under the name Carolyn Scott, she has published contemporary short stories in several women s magazines, including Take a Break, Women s Day, and That s Life. After spending her early childhood surrounded by the dramatic beauty of outback Queensland, she lives today in suburban Melbourne with her husband and their two children.