Carole has always followed research to extremes. For instance, as a children’s librarian preparing a puppet show based on a NW Native American legend, she bought a piano-sized loom and learned to weave so she could construct a chieftain’s robe like the one she found in the Burke Museum.

She has carried her love of research into writing historical fiction. Besides reading about six million words of background materials for The Year We Were Famous, she drove part of the route of Clara and Helga Estby’s walk with her daughter, combed antique stores for items similar to the ones they took with them, bought period postcards on e-bay, poured over old railroad maps to construct a plausible day by day itinerary for the whole 232-day trek, and even sewed authentically-styled late Victorian under-drawers which she will not model, but will include along with a curling iron, high-topped shoes, and carpet bag in presentations.

She is married and has two children, two grandchildren, and a bossy cat. She writes in her home in Everett, Washington and a converted woodshed on San Juan Island.