Julie Chibbaro grew up in New York City wondering how so many people could live together without infecting each other with mortal diseases. After attending Performing Arts High School for theater, she ran away to Mexico, where she survived an earthquake and a motorcycle crash and learned a little something about death. Returning to New York, she decided to create her own fictional characters instead of playing one. Julie Chibbaro is the author of Redemption, which won the 2005 American Book Award. Julie teaches fiction and creative writing in New York.