Rebecca M. Hale is the NY Times bestselling author of HOW TO WASH A CAT. The series, starring Rebecca's cats Rupert and Isabella, takes place at an antique shop in San Francisco's historic Jackson Square. Each book features a treasure hunt style mystery relating to a different aspect of California history – from the Gold Rush (HOW TO WASH A CAT) to the San Francisco escapades of Mark Twain (NINE LIVES LAST FOREVER) and the Bear Flag Revolt (HOW TO MOON A CAT). The alligator romp HOW TO TAIL A CAT explores the wealthy businessmen who endowed the city's famous Steinhart Aquarium. It releases September 2012.

Rebecca is also the author of the new Mystery in the Islands series, which started with ADRIFT ON ST JOHN. When a water taxi sinks and one of the vessel's passengers disappears, the locals suspect the missing woman may have been done in by a ghost from the island's 1733 Slave Revolt. The second island book AFOOT ON ST CROIX is scheduled for 2013 release.

Rebecca and her cadre of cats live in Western Colorado.