Jean Downer grew up in a rural area where she spent her childhood entertaining family and friends with her imagination. She left for city life and earned a Master of Arts in English Literature and a Ph. D. in Rhetoric and taught in both English and Women Studies departments for many years. She credits academia for pushing her toward her life’s dream: to write and live creatively. Downer is a published poet and author of the debut Sloane West Mystery series. Originally from the US, she now lives in British Columbia with her wife of twenty-plus years, their two fabulous daughters, two lazy dogs, and three chill cats.