Kate Lydon Varley grew up along the rocky coast of Massachusetts, but has lived most of her life amid the trees of Pennsylvania. A jack of all trades, she has worked as a therapist, teacher, secretary, editor, and even had a brief stint as a quasi-forger. Daughter of a man who made the best donuts in the world, and a woman who acted out Macbeth and read poetry to her children, Kate is the oldest of five, and thus is prone to giving advice. Her husband, two children, two cats and one dog, independent souls all, pay scant attention, and so she writes. She is founder and editor of the late, lamented zine of autobiographical writing, Creek Road Gang. She is author of the comic mystery Off Center, and is currently working on several other writing projects.