About the Author

Maria Mercurio was born, raised, and currently resides in southern California. She is a mother of precocious, often rambunctious, and definitely quarrelsome boys. She obtained her Bachelor degree from the University of Southern California and has had a long career in the fashion industry. A huge part of her working week is spent in the air, literally not figuratively. Writing is what grounds her - this part is figurative. She is a voracious reader and is passionate about travel, experiencing life outside, and reducing our carbon impact. Her debut novel The Fourth Paladin was a YA fantasy romance. Her novella new series Survival, is a bit darker, much more adult, and just the right amount of spice.