Sword of the Guardian (Legends of Ithyria)
Merry Shannon was born in California in 1979 and grew up a  military brat.  An avid reader with a deep love of language, Merry began  writing at the age of seven and completed her first novel-length story when  she was thirteen.  She graduated in 2001 with a BA in English and currently  resides in Colorado with her two cats.  In addition to writing, she works  full-time doing county social work, and in her free time enjoys sewing  glittery costumes and drooling over the gorgeous women of the Japanese  Takarazuka theater.