Deborah J. Benoit was a legal secretary for 30 years before deciding to pursue more creative endeavors. Her debut novel, The Gardener's Plot, won the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition. Born and raised in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, there's no place she'd rather call home, even in winter. Determined to never stop learning, Deborah loves sharing her knowledge of gardening, through articles she's written, in person, and on social media. When not writing or digging up plots in her garden, she can be found working on her latest fiber arts project.