Nancy is a happily former Realtor. Without a license to hold her back, she was free to share her opinions about all things real estate especially in Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries. Her background added authenticity to the series, but when she was ready for a new series, she turned to a former law librarian turned private investigator for guidance about writing Pat Pirard, the protagonist of PIP Inc. Mysteries.

Nancy has had a checkered career past: she's worked for the San Jose Mercury News, been a librarian, photo archivist, and been the business manager of Shakespeare/Santa Cruz.
Her work history reflects her philosophy: people should try something radically different every few years. Writing murder mysteries set in Santa Cruz is one of her newer adventures.

She has also had a go at editing. "Cozy Food," which has caused her to think that cozy writers are the nicest people out there, has recipes from 128 cozy mystery writers. "Santa Cruz Weird" was fun to put together but a nightmare to format causing her to swear off anthologies. However, she gave it one more go with "Santa Cruz Ghost Stories" which was great fun, not only for working withother writers, but for the stories.

She's also written "Mags and the AARP Gang" about a groups of 80-somethings who rob a bank to pay off the mortgage on their mobile home park, and used notes she took during her first year as an Airbnb host to write "The Truth About Hosting Airbnb."

Nancy is exploring short story writing, too, and adds to "Bodies in Bonny Doon" whenever she finishes a story. It's only available as an ebook right now, but it will eventually grow into a print book in the future.