More About the Author
Formerly a high school math teacher, Loretta Hall started a new career as a freelance writer in 1990. She has written magazine articles on many topics, including travel, business, and construction. She has also written reference book chapters on such topics as Native American tribes, biographies of scientists and mathematicians, and how various products are made. When she gets intrigued with something and can't find a book to satisfy her curiosity about it, she does her own research and writes the book for others who want to know about that topic. For instance, In 2009, when plans for Spaceport America, the country's first purpose-built commercial spaceflight facility, began moving forward, she was fascinated to discover the important role New Mexico has played in the development of space travel. She decided to herald that unheralded history by writing Out of this World: New Mexico's Contributions to Space Travel, the only book to document the historic events in the state and the personal stories of the people who accomplished them. She also created a website, NMSpaceHistory.com, to supplement the book with news items and additional insights. She is a member of both the National Space Society and the Historical Society of New Mexico's Speakers Bureau.
Another idea caught Loretta's attention several years ago. For her technical articles, she often does research in the University of New Mexico's science and engineering library, which is a completely underground building. She began to wonder how common subterranean structures are, and how their design and construction differ from more conventional buildings. Not being able to find a comprehensive, non-academic book on the subject, she decided to write the book she wanted to read. The result was Underground Buildings: More than Meets the Eye. Her web site SubsurfaceBuildings.com features new information on building below ground. She is certified as a Green Building Technical Professional and is a member of the Construction Writers Association.
Loretta has also written three books for educational publishers. Arab American Biography and Arab American Voices were published by U*X*L in 1999. From Skyscrapers to Superdomes: Forces in Balance, a supplemental text for middle schoolers, was published by Newbridge Educational Publishing in 2005.
She and her husband, Jerry, live in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
