Erika grew up to the sound of typewriter music. Her mother, bestselling novelist Barbara Raskin, was a rollicking story-teller who could turn reports of mundane trips to the 7-Eleven into high drama. And while Erika's dad, Marcus, was an author of non-fiction he taught her to make up back-stories of unsuspecting passers-by. She learned at an early age to collect details, catalog interesting behaviors, and then offer compelling rationales for everything from hairstyles to close-talking.She pretty much had no choice but to join the family business. (It was a fortuitous career choice, though, because she is able to write what she worries about. Which is, um, a lot.) Her most recent novel, 'Allegiance,' explores a grandmother's desire to protect her family as the country lurches towards fascism. The central question it asks is: how far is too far? 'Best Intentions' is about a hospital social worker navigating a new job, family life, and institutionalized medical malpractice. She ends up on trial. 'Close' is about family therapy--on TV. What could possibly go wrong with that? She's authored essays for print and radio, articles and short stories. Her fiction has been recognized by the Reynolds Price competition, Glimmertrain, the Library of Virginia and the Virginia Commission on the Arts. Read more about this authorRead less about this author