Renaissance woman Catherine Asaro is a scientist with a PhD from Harvard, a ballerina and jazz dancer who has performed on both coasts, and a bestselling, award-winning science fiction writer of science fiction, fantasy, and near future thrillers. The author of twenty-five novels, she is acclaimed for her Skolian Empire series, which combines adventure, hard science, romance, themes that challenge the status quo and fast-paced action. Her stand-alone novel, The Quantum Rose, won the Nebula® Award, as did her novella, "The Spacetime Pool" (Analog 2008). She is a three time winner of the Romantic Times BOOKClub award for "Best Science Fiction Novel" and has won numerous other distinctions, including the Sapphire Award and the AnLab from Analog magazine. Her next book, Carnelians, is due out in October, 2011.

In addition to her writing, Catherine is also a musician. Her first CD, Diamond Star, is the soundtrack for her novel of the same name, cut by the rock band, Point Valid, with Catherine as guest artist. The second CD, Goodbye Note, by Asaro and Donald Wolcott, includes covers as well as originals.

Praised for her ability to mix high quality science-fiction with character-driven stories, Catherine has a doctorate in chemical physics and a masters in physics, both from Harvard. In addition to her writing and music, she has been a coach for nationally ranked math teams, in particular the Howard Area Homeschoolers and the Chesapeake Math Program, including serving as the founder and coach for the Chesapeake American Regional Math League team. Students from her math teams have gone on to win many awards, including top honors from the USA Mathematical Olympiad and the USA Mathematical Talent Search. She is currently a visiting professor as the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Catherine welcomes dialogue with readers and can be reached most easily at her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Catherine.Asaro.