A former European security specialist, Suzanne now writes historical fiction about the Soviet Union. She studied Russian at Purdue University and the Pushkin Institute in Moscow. After earning a Master’s from Princeton University, she began a career in public service with the US Department of Defense focused on Europe and the Soviet Union. While at the Pentagon she helped negotiate the Conference on Disarmament in Europe, the first security agreement of the Gorbachev era. She raised a large family and taught university, eventually landing in the wonderful and welcoming city of Portland, Oregon. There, she coached high school cross country and track for fifteen years before embarking on a writing career. A veteran of several dozen marathons on six continents, Suzanne now runs slowly and not very far. She remains convinced that raising four children was as difficult as negotiating with the Soviets.