William G. Tapply is the author of more than three dozen books and over 600 magazine articles. He has written twenty-five New England-based novels, including Shadow of Death, Bitch Creek, and his latest Nervous Water, which was published in September 2005. Bill's handbook, The Elements of Mystery Fiction: Writing a Modern Whodunit, is used in writing classes and workshops across the country. He has also published ten books on fly fishing and the outdoors, most recently Gone Fishin': Ruminations on Fly Fishing.   Bill is a Contributing Editor for Field & Stream and Upland Almanac and a columnist for American Angler. His articles, stories and essays on writing, fishing, gardening, education and other subjects have appeared in dozens of national publications.   A veteran public speaker, Bill has been giving talks and participating on writing panels for twenty years.  He is a professor of English at Clark University in Worcester, where he teaches writing. He has been teaching novel- and mystery-writing workshops for the Writer's Digest School for fifteen years. He welcomes visitors to his Web site: www.williamgtapply.com Vicki Stiefel's first novel, Body Parts, was published by Leisure in 2004. Vicki's second novel—The Dead Stonecame out in March 2005. A novel of mystery and suspense, The Dead Stone features continuing protagonist, homicide counselor Tally Whyte. Vicki is at work on her third novel in the series, which is scheduled for September 2006 publication.   Publisher's Weekly likens her style to Mary Higgins Clark and Sue Grafton, and Crimestalker Casebook notes, "Stiefel has the psychological thriller down so well, you might think she invented it."         Vicki grew up in professional theater—her family owned and ran the Ivoryton Playhouse for forty-two years, an Equity stock theater. Her theater upbringing has been one of the defining elements in her life.   She has worked as an assistant producer for a New Jersey stock company, a professional photographer, a high-school Drama and English teacher, a hamburger slinger, a scuba-dive-shop manager, and an editor. She's counseled adolescents and worked with law enforcement professionals.   Vicki's short story, "Ginny's Curve," appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. She was a contributing editor to Dive Trainin and the film critic and columnist for Worcester Magazine. Her work has also appeared in New Woman, the Harvard Post, Alert Diver, the Improper Bostonian, and other national and regional publications. She was the Special Sections Editor for The Meetings Group/Primedia Business Magazines & Media for many years.   All of the above, plus passions for scuba diving and fly fishing; photography and movies; and musical comedy scores, which she sings in the shower, unfortunately not an Equity venue; and a fascination with people in all walks of life inform her teaching and her fiction. She invites visitors to her Web site: www.vickistiefel.com.