LISA SMEDMAN is the author of more than 20 books, ranging from science fiction and fantasy novels to non-fiction histories of the Vancouver, the city where she lives. In 2004, one of her Forgotten Realms novels made the New York Times best sellers list. She is also an accomplished game designer, having written dozens of adventures for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game and other tabletop RPGs. She worked as a journalist for 25 years, and now makes her living teaching video game design at a local college.