Bess comes from a family of readers, but she's always enjoyed telling stories as much as reading them. She also likes watching people and imagining fantastic backstories for them. Her dad's job taking them from Maadi, Egypt, to New Port Richey, Florida, and quite a few places in between, Bess caught the travel bug early. She loves speaking French and watching French movies. Quiche remains one of the few dishes she cooks well.
Likes: A clean house, pretty stuff, beagles and chow chows, infants with grandparent names, interesting words, day trips, road trips, weekend trips, trips in general.
Dislikes: Clutter, bad smells, headaches, acting stupidly, sad stuff.
Despises: Weeding and weeds, in that order.
Marissa is a singer/songwriter, student, music teacher and an overly analytical cynic.
Likes: Singing, performing, dance class, long walks, runner's high, peanut butter and vanilla ice cream, making out.
Dislikes: Capers, spin class.
Despises: Dating.
Melisa is a wine dealer by day and wine taster by night, an avid reader with a seriously competitive streak and a love of all (most) things DIY.
Likes: Sewing and crafting, dark chocolate, yoga, beach vacations, cruiser rides, and lots of lady time.
Dislikes: Men in jean shorts, ketchup, and decaf.
Despises: Losing.
Kayla is an accomplished marine biologist and oceanic explorer, winning the coveted Reisch grant consecutive times in summers of '87 and '88. She credits her love of the open ocean for a modest home in Colorado, and her longstanding accompaniment of yellow labrador retrievers. During the Cold War, she crashed a spy plane somewhere near Großhansdorf. There she developed a fondness for fine wines, sharp cheeses, and men with mustaches. Her on-again, off-again romance with John Coltrane eventually led to a short stint at Bellevue, and she now occupies her time imagining former fantastical adventures and reading her many, many books. Though Kayla still can't stand Jazz music.
Likes: Soup dumplings, garden parties, entomology, Scrabble, Sunday brunch, embroidery, and nicknames.
Dislikes: Whistling.
Despises: Live cultures.
Courtney is a vintage collector, Etsy shop owner, English teacher, and small dog lover. She's from California, the youngest of four, and the daughter of an artist and teacher. Incidentally, she loves art and teaching. She also enjoys collecting things, especially old photos and weird cameras.
Likes: Making jewelry, snapping pictures, blogging, documenting everything, graphic novels, young adult literature, and sweets.
Dislikes: Small talk, numbers, and sports.
Despises: Being bored.
