Kalen Hughes is a debut historical author and former Golden Heart finalist. Always a voracious reader, Kalen didn't discover the world of romance until her godmother handed her a Georgette Heyer novel during her freshman year of college. While she studied philosophy and creative writing (yes, she's one of those dreadful MFA people *grin*), she continued to read romance . . . and eventually her inner poet was drowned out by voices demanding that their stories be told. Growing up in the lively reenactor community on the West Coast, and working as her godmother's research assistant during college, pretty much guaranteed that those self-same voices would be historical.

When she's not writing, Kalen spends enormous amounts of time researching and recreating historical clothing, often going so far as to use period sewing techniques (yes, that means lots and lots of hand sewing). She also gives workshops to her fellow romance writers on topics ranging from the History of Underclothes, to How Clothes Worked During the Regency, to the Origins of the Kilt.