Olivia Kidney has been through a lot. Being able to communicate with ghosts means never a dull moment - or a normal life. But just when things have calmed down, Olivia's father insists she enroll at one of the most prestigious arts schools in Manhattan! Yet her school problems take a backseat when Olivia must help her friend Frannie solve an age-old mystery, one that forces her deep underground into the infamous, intricate subway system of New York City. And what awaits her makes ghosts look like child's play.
Like my character, Olivia Kidney, I grew up in a high-rise apartment building in New York City's Upper West Side. I think I always wanted to be a writer, even as a young kid. After graduating from college, I began writing short stories and a novel (for grownups), while working many odd (sometimes very odd) jobs. I worked as a dog groomer, a construction worker, and a waitress. Having lots of different jobs is a terrific advantage for a writer. Because of them, I know all kinds of weird things, like how to remove bubble gum from dog fur (peanut butter). In fact, it was while I was addressing envelopes during a boring stint as a receptionist that a name caught my eye: Olivia Kidney. What a great name, I thought! I jotted it down in my journal. Years later, while thumbing through my old journals, I spotted the name and decided it was perfect for the twelve-year-old heroine of my first children's book.
