L. J. Vieger grew up in San Antonio, Texas, one of the country’s most haunted cities. As a child, she was drawn to mysteries and exploring the kinds of places people walk past quickly: empty lots, quiet streets, and houses with only one room lit.

She spent nearly thirty years as a teacher, sharing stories with her students and learning exactly where they leaned in: when they laughed, when they stopped fidgeting, and when the whole room seemed to hold its breath. Those were always her favorite moments.

She carried those moments with her when she began writing her own stories. The kind that begin normally… and then go somewhere else entirely.

These days, L. J. lives just outside the city on two acres with her husband, a real rocket scientist, and their dog Lucy, a black cocker spaniel mix who takes her job as writing companion very seriously. Country living is still new to her, and she’s getting used to nights that are louder than they should be, filled with unfamiliar sounds, unseen movement, and things she can’t quite explain.

When she’s not writing, she’s often traveling, competing in triathlons, or wandering somewhere new with her camera in hand. She photographs anything — shadows, empty places, and things that might be nothing… or might be something — and saves it all for story ideas.

Fun facts:

• L. J. Vieger was born on a Friday the 13th.
• She loves writing and reading horror, but can’t watch it on screen without covering her eyes.
• One thing that doesn’t spook her: Rubik’s Cubes. She can solve one in minutes.
• She’s a reluctant triathlete: strong on the bike, determined on the run, and deeply suspicious of large bodies of water.