Joy Michelle Austin loves stories full of heart, mystery, friendship, and adventure. She grew up devouring Nancy Drew books, solving imaginary cases in her backyard, and writing her own detective stories in spiral notebooks. Now she gets to create mysteries for young readers as part of the Seaside Sleuths series. When she's not writing, Joy can often be found reading, walking her dog, exploring historic places, or enjoying musical theatre. She believes books are powerful-helping us grow braver, kinder, and more curious about the world and each other. Joy lives in Southern California near the ocean with her family and a very opinionated pup named Captain Hastings-named after Agatha Christie's beloved detective sidekick. She hopes her stories remind young readers that courage comes in many forms, kindness matters, and every child has a unique part to play. To learn more about Joy, her books, and fun activities for readers and classrooms, visit: www.

thejoyousliving.com.