Valerie Pepper is an incurable optimist and a firm believer in happily ever afters, even if it takes more than one try. When she's not writing, you can find her reading, hiking, listening to whatever music suits her mood, and hanging out with her family. She's fascinated with the idea of a capsule wardrobe, but loves clothes and shoes and boots far too much to make a real go of it. She's living out her own happily ever after in Birmingham, Alabama, with her family and maaaaaybe too many shoes. Valerie is the recipient of the Contemporary Romance Writer's 2021 Stiletto Award.