Shelley Fraser Mickle grew up in Arkansas and Tennessee and graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1966. She studied writing at the University of Mississippi, the Harvard Extension School, and Wellesley College. She lives in Alachua County, Florida, with her horse Precious, and her dogs, Pickles and Gussie. She is married and the mother of two children.

Her first novel, THE QUEEN OF OCTOBER, was a l989 New York Times Notable Book; her second novel, REPLACING DAD, became a CBS movie and is now frequently shown on the Hallmark Channel, starring Mary McDonnell and teen heartthrob Eric von Detten.

Shelley began reading her humorous essays on National Public Radio in l995, and her collection of some of these was published in 2000, titled The Kids Are Gone; The Dog Is Depressed & Mom's on the Loose. She also wrote a weekly newspaper column called "Novel Conversations" which works like a book club. Some of these have been used as a fund-raising tape and were also given a Special Achievement Award by Associated Press in 1997. These essays now frequently are heard state-wide on Public Radio's Capital Report, broadcast out of Tallahassee, and she has been the guest commentator for the University of Florida football team for the last two years, prior to the Sugar Bowl and the F.S.U vs. U.F. game.

Her humorous essays have also recently become a part of the public radio program Recess, which is being picked up from satellite in radio stations in twenty listening areas ranging from Jacksonville to Columbus, Albuquerque to Milwaukee, Mobile Alabama, parts Texas and the state of Wyoming.

For more information contact Shelley at shelleyfm@aol.com