KATE MERRILL is an art gallery owner, real estate broker, and fiction writer living on Lake Norman in North Carolina. THE DIANA RITTENHOUSE MYSTERY series of five novels is now complete. It describes the adventures, murder, and mayhem that challenge real estate agent Diana when she moves from Philadelphia to begin a new life in rural North Carolina.The upcoming AMANDA RITTENHOUSE MYSTERY series follows Amanda's lesbian artist daughter as she reunites with her long-estranged mom in North Carolina. As Amanda seeks a new life and new love, she too encounters murder, abduction and political intrigue as she follows in her mother's footsteps as an amateur sleuth.Kate's romance, FLAMES of SUMMER, captures the ambiance of rural Alabama including the characters, culture, and lingering racial and class tensions while celebrating the eternal nature of commitment.Kate says "I write because I simply can't help it. Writing is my pleasure, my passion, plus I love to tell stories." When she is not writing, promoting her gallery artists, or selling real estate, Kate enjoys hiking, boating, and allowing her two strong-headed Golden Retrievers to take her for a walk.Read more about this authorRead less about this author