An author of over thirty-eight novels, and a successful free-lance writer, Lois Duncan has fulfilled aspirations that began early. Her first story was published at age thirteen. "It had not been a good day.

"To begin with, I had botched up my first-period math test. Then, at noon, I had discovered that my lunch ticket had run out, and I had forgotten to take money to buy another. My combination lock had stuck, so I hadn't been able to get my gym clothes out of my locker and had received another demerit in P.E.

"After school I'd gone to the orthodontist to have my braces tightened and had been told that I'd have to wear them for at least another year because my teeth weren't lining up properly.... All in all, I was in a rotten mood as I slammed into the house and dropped my books...