JL Gilliland is an avid student of ancient history, mythology, and human motivation. She has been researching the Indus Valley Civilization and Hindu mythology since 2003, convinced there was an epic tale laying there, waiting to be written. That research culminated in first Mythic novel, "The Descent of Lakshmi."

The author has advanced degrees in Community Counseling from Ohio University and Organizational Performance and Workplace learning from Boise State University. She works part-time as an Instructional Designer while squeezing in time to write between her responsibilities as a wife, a mother of three adult daughters, and an avid gardener.