In this reality, Mary Lawton, mother to three rogues, is an Irish writer. In another, who knows? Mary has a PhD in English literature and spends her free time reading Agatha Christie, Jonathan Kellerman, James Patterson, both Connolly and Connelly, and other mystery writers. She has a penchant for Sci-Fi infused with good, old-fashioned drama. Her other interests include sidestepping red herrings, Irish and Old Norse mythology, and, of course, more reading. Like many other writers, she moves across genres and, spongelike, absorbs any reading material that comes her way.