Janet Beeler Shaw is the author of the Kaya and Kirsten books in The American Girls Collection, including Kaya's mystery, making her the only core author to carry over into the Historical Character Mysteries. She has published two books of poetry‚ a collection of short fiction‚ and an adult novel‚ Taking Leave. Her short stories have also been published in magazines‚ including The Atlantic Monthly‚ Redbook‚ and McCall’s. She lives in Asheville‚ North Carolina.