Ten facts about Vanessa:

1. Has spent more than three decades searching for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe, only to come to the conclusion that a bad chocolate chip cookie does not exist.

2. Almost reached bucket list goal of visiting 50 states, three more to go.

3. Spent a fun and productive year handing out samples at the grocery store.

4. Owns more plants than shoes and purses combined.

5. First sentence she ever said to her husband: Do you want my ham?

6. Renovated two houses, despite lacking all skill with every possible tool.

7. Her favorite books are the ones she has never published, more than a dozen YA novels.

8. Selects a song for each book she writes in order to fulfill secret dream of being person who makes movie soundtracks.

9. As a 911 dispatcher, once accidentally ended a call with, "I love you, bye!"

10. Wastes too much time reading about her Myers-Briggs personality type. INFJ's unite! (Separately, of course.)