Linda Hudson-Smith was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania and raised in the small town of Washington, PA. She furthered her educational goals at Duff's Business Institue in Pittsburgh, PA. In 2002, after illness forced her to leave a sucessful marketing and public relations postion, she turned to writing as a healing and creative outlet...and became a national bestselling author. Linda has won several awards, including the Gold Pen Award for Best New Author and has twice won Open Book Awards through the African-Amierican Literary Show Awards; AALAS. She is also an Essence Bestselling Author. She has won two Shades of Romance Magazine awards. Linda was nominated for two Emma Awards and a Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times Book Reviews. Her novel covers and story have appeared in such major publications as Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Lupus Now and Essence Magazine, among numerous others. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Black Writers Alliance. For the past decade Linda has served as a spokersperson for the Lupus Foundation of America. She travels around the country delivering inspirational messages of hope. Linda was awarded the Key to the City in Crestview, Florida for her contributions to educating others on lupus. Shrle also supports the American Cancer Society and NAACP. Linda enjoys poetry, reading, writing, entertaining and traveling to exotic locations. The mother of two adult sons, she resides in League City, Texas, with her husband Rudy, a successful meteorologist and a retired member of the United States Air Force.