Shirley Latessa was born in Michigan. She spent her teenage years in a Zionist youth movement, and her twenties studying acting and performing in New York and in Cleveland, where she met her husband. Her thirties were spent raising her three daughters, studying anthroposophy, and writing.

Ms. Latessa (then Stollman) started writing at a young age, but it wasn't until her thirties that she began to take her writing seriously. She wrote song lyrics, a few plays, and the book and lyrics for a musical. Her poetry has appeared in the highly acclaimed HER FACE IN THE MIRROR, a compilation of works by mothers and daughters edited by Faye Moskowitz and published by Beacon Press, and in various other publications. She has co-edited two books of non-fiction, THE CHANGING COUNTENANCE OF COSMOLOGY and ISIS SOPHIA. She has also written two modern day novels called, EIGHTEEN DAYS TILL HOME and DANCING IN THE FIRE, and a book of poetry called, SUMMING UP.

Ms. Latessa's most recent work is the fantasy quartet, called collectively Auragole's Journey, which includes AURAGOLE OF THE MOUNTAINS; AURAGOLE OF THE WAY; AURAGOLE OF MATTELMEAD; and AURAGOLE AND THE LAST BATTLE. Follow the links to view all her works.

Shirley Latessa currently lives in Greenwich Village in New York City.

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