Dina Benet, is tired of being the victim of her own bad decisions. Unlike her sister, Celia, whose confidence and careful choices land her in a loving relationship, Dina chases her dream of becoming a writer in Ireland. There she makes the age-old mistake of falling for a free-spirited poet. As the relationship explodes following his betrayal, she discovers she’s pregnant. Unable to provide a stable home, Dina courageously gives up her baby to an Irish couple, at a painful cost to herself. She keeps her child a secret from everyone, burying her grief and returning to America. To escape her pain, Dina impulsively jumps into a relationship with Luke, a commitment phobic, single father. When she’s diagnosed with cancer, Dina finally make choices that ensure love will win. The Leaf Queen is a powerful adult coming-of-age story about love, forgiveness, and the difficult choices that can lead to healing. The Leaf Queen is a work of fiction. All authors write from a base of something they know, as I did here. I grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania and I'm a cancer survivor. I've visited Ireland and New York City many times. It's part of every writer's process to incorporate places and experiences they either know or imagine and dream about in their works of fiction. Dina's life, response to life situations, and happy ending are completely hers. Unlike Dina, I come from a loving family, with two brothers but no sisters. I have a drop of Scots/Irish heritage, but I've never lived in Ireland or New York City, much as I would love to give both a try!  I enjoy setting part or all of my novels in Western Pennsylvania, where I was born and raised and where my roots run deep, just as I love weaving places I've visited into a work of fiction. Travel is one of my many passions! You can visit my website at for more information.