Growing up in a converted 1890s funeral home, complete with blood gutters in the basement floor, fueled DAKOTA BANKS's interest in the paranormal. She's no ghost whisperer, but she keeps an open mind. She's fascinated with both archaeology and the paranormal, especially when the two intersect. A member of the Horror Writers Association and International Thriller Writers, Dakota lives in a St. Louis suburb with her husband, two sons adopted from Peru and Ethiopia, and a couple of cats who keep her writing on track.