A native of Minnesota, I set my first novel in my home state, which is actually another character in the book. Inspired by a true story, the universal themes of familial bonds and love, the existence of evil in ordinary lives, and its effects and consequences are some of the core elements in "Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace". Before writing a novel, I had a rather eclectic career. After graduating from Iowa State University with a BS in journalism, I spent several years in radio. Known as Bobbi Burton, my voice was probably a bit too smoke and whiskey-cured for the hog reports. That's when I returned to writing, spending a number of years in corporate communications. The reviews for "Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace" have been incredible, which is truly gratifying. I think this has a great deal to do with the universal themes in the novel - we all have families and the bond of shared blood that connects us, even when we're not getting along. That's the crux of this story - even the most morally grounded individual can be pushed to do things they would never otherwise consider when it comes to protecting loved ones from harm.