Teyla Branton grew up avidly reading science fiction and fantasy and watching Star Trek reruns with her large family. They lived on a little farm where she loved to visit the solitary cow and collect (and juggle) the eggs, usually making it back to the house with most of them intact. On that same farm she once owned thirty-three gerbils and eighteen cats, not a good mix, as it turns out. Teyla always had her nose in a book and daydreamed about someday creating her own worlds. She is now married, mostly grown up, and has seven kids, so life at her house can be very interesting (and loud), but writing keeps her sane. She thrives on the energy, inspiration, and daily amusement offered by her children. Grabbing any snatch of free time from her hectic life, Teyla writes novels, often with a child on her lap. She loves guns, martial arts, and belly dancing. Teyla writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and science fiction. She also writes romance and romantic suspense under the name Rachel Branton. For more information or to hear about new releases, please visit