Ann Benson is the author of the three historical novels of the Plague Trilogy: The Plague Tales, The Burning Road, and The Physician's Tale, as well as the stand-alone novel Thief of Souls (Random House). She is also an internationally acclaimed designer/teacher of beading and fiber arts and is considered the leading authority on beaded crochet. Ann has published eight books on beading and needle arts and holds over one thousand copyrights for fiber and beading design. With her husband Gary Frost, she winters in Port Orange, Florida, and summers on Cape Cod. She is the mother of two fabulous grown daughters and adores her many wonderful grandchildren.