Kim van Alke­made is The New York Times best­selling author of Orphan #8 and Bach­e­lor Girl. She went to col­lege in Wis­con­sin, where she earned a Ph.D. in Eng­lish. For many years, she was a pro­fes­sor at Ship­pens­burg Uni­ver­si­ty in Penn­syl­va­nia. Now a full-time writer, she resides in Sarato­ga Springs, New York, with her part­ner and their many pets.