The Regency and Victorian eras have always been a magnetizing draw for Vanessa Riley. Even as she worked to complete her doctorate in Mechanical Engineering , she made time for renaissance fairs and any novel or cinematographic work depicting these genteel societies of old. Perhaps, the attraction arises from the kinship she feels with the period being brought up in the restrictive Southern Bible Belt with its stringent definitions of decent behavior and life expectations. Perhaps the common dominator to this appeal is her own thirty day Christian courtship or even the arranged marriages of her uncles; each is emblematic of the nuptials of those earlier times.
 
A technology muse like Dr. Vanessa Riley is probably not the immediate choice to write about haute ton English society set in the 1800's. With her most recent published work being "Reducing Deformation by Phase Manipulation," the common visceral reaction is that Providence has given another mule a voice to tell His story. Nevertheless, this mule uses her determined spirit and dogmatic tenacity to discover the hidden nuances of a character making him believable, her human and both ready to be used of God.
 
Vanessa is no stranger to creative writing or journalism.  Before completing her doctorate at Stanford University, Vanessa served as national publications chairperson for one of the largest student-run organizations in the country which published a quarterly magazine. Vanessa was editor in chief of Engenuity, a Penn State student magazine which focused on the department of engineering. In high school, she was assistant editor in chief of South Aiken High's school newspaper. Her grade school education is filled with awards and certificates for creative writing, poetry and speaking competitions.
 
Vanessa holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and a masters in industrial engineering and engineering management from Stanford University. She also earned BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Penn State University.   She has been a radio anchorwoman and church announcer. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association.
 
Today, Vanessa juggles mothering a three year old, her eleventh wedding anniversary, engineering, writing and speaking at women's events. She is known for her humorous delivery of poignant truths. Vanessa is currently, editor in chief of an online social network, www.busymama.net.