Kate Dolan writes award-winning historical fiction and romance under her own name and contemporary mysteries and children’s books under the name K.D. Hays. A professional writer since 1992, Kate has written everything from legal analysis to a weekly newspaper column on religion.

Historical Novels Review praises her “humor and unusual characters that crackle off the page,” Midwest Book Review finds her tales “riveting,” and historians admire her research and reconstruction of places and manners of bygone eras. Drawing on local color for inspiration, she sets many of her stories in her home state of Maryland.

She loves to explore the past by visiting historic sites and engaging in living history demonstrations and experiments. She also tries to spend as much time as possible riding roller coasters and waterslides with her kids, which can be just as educational. For example, one summer they learned exactly what not to put in your pocket when you are riding El Toro at Six Flags.

When not writing and riding coasters, Kate enjoys traveling, coaching jump rope, and taking long walks with her dog.