Lee’s often calls herself an “accidental author.” Although a lifelonger lover of books, Lee had not considered writing until, while working in the field of health and wellness, she began to write a weekly column for her local paper. Surprised with the positive feedback, she began to investigate the profession of writing. “Now I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Lee says. “I’ve always been very curious, a learning junky, hopping from one topic to another. Turns out, this is a positive proclivity for a writer!”

She originally attended college to study zoology, worked in a zoo and spent several summers as a camp nature director. A career detour led her into 15 years of providing health, fitness and wellness services. “I never lost my love for nature, and kept up on reading about ecology, the environment, animal behavior etc.” Lee says. “I had been reading Gaia Theory, originally developed by Lynn Margulis and James Lovelock, when I had the idea of the Earth having the consciousness to enlist the help of a handful of cool eco-minded girls. My husband, a third-grade teacher, fell in love with the concept. ‘We need more girl heroes!’ he told me! He wouldn’t rest until I attempted to write the story. It took me over a year to get up the guts to try.”

In ’08-’09 Lee paused work on the Gaia Girls Book Series to write a novel collaboratively. Lee explains, “My collaborator had the story concept, characters and locations all lined up. I pulled those ingredients into a rich fantasy story that I know my Gaia Girls fans will enjoy.” More details about this work will become available as the publisher makes them known.

Lee also believes in community service. In 2007 she ran for the City of Corning’s City Council and won! She is currently serving a four-year term and also serves on the Board of Director’s for Corning’s Gaffer District. Lee laughs, “I bet I’m the only councilman who sits at her ‘regular job’ and gets to think up cool powers!”

Lee summarizes the writer’s life, “I believe writers need to lead an almost schizophrenic lifestyle. There are times when we need to be locked away with no distractions—doing the actual work of putting words on a page. There are other times, however, when we need to get out and immerse ourselves in the juiciness of the world. Otherwise, what will we have to write about?”