Dakota has always had a passion for reading and writing. From the time she was
an adolescent, she enjoyed curling up with a good paperback, reading genres
that ranged from thriller and fantasy, to mystery and romance. She always
dreamed of one day writing her own book, but had put her aspirations on hold to
focus on her family and a career that would pay the bills. However, her heart
continued to be with fictional characters – whether they belonged to a favorite
author or if they were just stories that she made up in her own head.

In 2013, Dakota gathered enough courage to turn her dreams into a reality. In
between playing chauffeur to two very busy children and working her job during
the day, Dakota began to put words on paper. Eventually, she began to describe
her life as a book. Everything she saw or heard throughout the day, intertwined
with her imagination for the creation of future writings. By 2014, with the
support of her husband and two children, she gave up the security of a steady
paycheck and began working on her first novel full time.

Her first novel, Heart of Stone, was published in December of 2015. Less than a
year after its release, the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards
recognized Heart of Stone as the 2016 Bronze Medalist in the romance category.

Dakota resides in the Western New York area, where she enjoys spending time
with family, her two Labrador Retrievers, and her spoiled rotten cat. During
the summer months, she can often be found soaking up the sun on the Great Lakes
with her family.