Gayle Marie’s family series explores the ancestral ache of wanting to belong inside and beyond bloodlines, and the complicated spaces between them. It is a journey through tangled roots and broken branches, where identity is forged not only by who we are born to, but by who we continue to reach for, remember, and love. She holds degrees in English and Creative Writing, and Communications. Her debut novel, Tomgirls, draws on her experience as a tomgirl near the Chesapeake Bay in rural Maryland and her career as a federal employee during the turbulent aftermath of 9/11. She loves playing the piano, spending time in nature, and being surrounded by her cherished family—full of unique personalities and furry companions.