Shannon Delany is the author of "13 to Life, " "Beasts and BFFs", and" Secrets and Shadows". A much-abbreviated version of "13 to Life" (written in just five weeks) won the grand prize in the western world's first-ever cell phone novel contest. Shannon has written stories ever since she was a child. Previously a teacher and now a farmer raising heritage livestock in upstate New York, she has always been fascinated by history, myths, legends and paranormal research.