Mary Lucal is happy to be putting her English and Women's Studies double major to use, creating flawed yet brave female sleuths who get a little help from Mother Nature to solve mysteries.

Mary is the author of the Riley Creek Cozy Mystery Series, including Hiking Sticks, Hawks, and Homicide, Binoculars, Blue Jays, and Bloodshed, and Maps, Mockingbirds, and Misdeeds.

A university administrator by day, Mary resides in Tennessee and spends her free time birding, hiking, camping, biking, or gardening.