AMANDA TRIMBLE is an award-winning copywriter with a master's degree in creative writing. She attended the University of Illinois, DePaul University, the University of Copenhagen (DIS), as well as international academies in Finland and Japan.

She grew up in Robinson, Illinois (home of the Heath candy bar!), lived in San Francisco for five years and now resides in Chicago, where she is finishing up her next novel. Her writing recently appeared in Teen magazine.

Photo: Michael Friel