I'm a native Californian with roots going back to the 1800's in the Inland Empire, and those roots are Welsh-American and Irish-American. I do love traditional Welsh and Irish cooking, but I try to make it more fitting with our local produce and my family's healthy lifestyle. I also love spicy food, especially Indian (thanks to my Godmom Kaly) and Southwest cuisine, and Asian, German, and Russian influences also find their way into my recipes, especially when I cook with my daughters.

When not cooking, I'm an avid fan of sci-fi. I read it, watch it, game it, and write it, and during ComicCon, I live it. I love just about anything Marvel or Dark Horse, the series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, Chuck, and Torchwood. Our family activities often center around conventions (we're heading to Gallifrey in February), although just as often we're to be found hiking around the wilderness or off on a writing retreat together, or hitting a punk concert as a small mob.

I'm a huge music fan, but don't pin me down to just one genre. My favorites are Disgracelands, Blue Gillespie, Live, Pat Metheny, Aerosmith, Social Distortion, Gordon Lightfoot, and Mindless Self Indulgence. Yeah, a bit of a wide range there, I know. I just like really good music, no matter what label anyone hangs on it.

I absolutely love dark chocolate, watermelon, berries, and cheesecake. My favorite comfort foods are Irish stew and chile verde.