Melinda Di Lorenzo has been writing professionally for more than a decade. In 2013 she won Harlequin's annual So You Think You Can Write contest, which came with a publishing contract and launched her into the romance world. With a BA in English from Simon Fraser University and a passion for classic love stories that feature strong (albeit sometimes problematic) female leads battling social constraints, Melinda infuses her books with flawed characters in real, relatable situations. Bullied as a teen, Melinda sought refuge in books. She now wants to provide that refuge for others, and she draws on her experience as the parent of three teens to craft stories that reflect modern struggles, without turning those struggles into stereotypes. She is the author of Counting Scars and Racing Hearts in the Orca Soundings line. Melinda lives in Surrey, British Columbia.