Kelli Jae Baeli began writing as a child, exploring poetry and journaling, and eventually moving on to short stories. After a romantic fling in the military with another female soldier, she decided to write a book based on the experience. The story that evolved took on a life of it's own, but it became her first novel, As You Were. This was followed quickly by Armchair Detective, a book she said she wrote because she couldn’t find other lesbian fiction she liked and so wanted to write something she would want to read. She's been doing that ever since.
There is nothing like experience to craft a character. Baeli has plenty to spare-from a stint in the military to late nights spent delivering newspapers or waiting tables, to office and restaurant management, to a reporter for a local newspaper, to a technical writer for a corporate jet company. Some of Baeli's fondest endeavors were fronting an all female band for seven years and as a managing editor for a women's press. Each job was one that Baeli turned into a study in human nature.
She pursued eight years of higher education, in the curriculum for a B.A. in Professional Writing & Editing, founded Kindred Ink Writer's Initiative and Kind Red Ink Editing Services, and maintains an author site, the blog Synaptic Circus and three forums. She is an also an independent publisher, editor, webmaster, blogger, artist, and singer-songwriter, with over 200 songwriting credits. Not shackled to one genre, she has authored (at last count) 33 books both fiction and nonfiction, and numerous stories and articles. She makes her home in Southland region of New Zealand, now, with her partner, author Kate Genet, and together they founded Lesbian Literati Press.
<p>Maria hits the streets of New York in search of the love denied by her alcoholic father and indifferent mother. When Sergio, a dark, worldly stranger, lures her with diamonds, brand-name clothing, and undivided attention, Maria sees a way out of her dysfunctional home. Seduced by Sergio’s charm and the promise of wealth and recognition, Maria ignores her panicked intuition and wanders into his lair.<br /><br />But in a world where ambition and deception go hand in hand, where dreams are shattered and innocence crushed, Maria discovers she’s trapped in a hell much worse than the one she left. And now, there is no escape. The price for betrayal is blood.<br /><br />Destiny intervenes when Maria meets Christian, a handsome law student haunted by a dark family secret. With her life at risk and time running out, will Maria find the strength to save herself and convince Christian to go against all reason and risk everything to help her?</p>
<p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;">5.0 out of 5 stars <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R1GX8ZCG0EPXBQ/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1450599109&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=283155&store=books"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Smart, Clever, Riveting - Everything You Want in a Book</span></a> August 27, 2012</p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;">By <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1O8ZM0ARQ9Z9Q/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp">Vix Reader</a></p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;">Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase</p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;">Simply put, this book was one of the best reads I've had in a while. The phrase, "I couldn't put it down" has lost its significance due to over use, but I'll say that I couldn't wait to get into bed at night and get my Baeli fix before falling asleep.</p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;"> </p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;">This book was a blessing and a curse. -A blessing because it was so satisfying, but a curse because I was sad for it to end. So...I read it once, went back and read "Armchair Detective" again and then read it again. It is a sequel to "Armchair Detective, but it could be read as a stand-alone. I would recommend reading "Armchair Detective" because the character development in that first book really helps cement the reader's understanding of Jobeth and Phoebe's remarkable relationship.</p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;"> </p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;">The book is written in both the first person and the objective third person. Baeli moves deftly between the two conventions. Jobeth's (and everyone for that matter) sense of humor is both smart and funny and she is a charming lead character. The author writes wonderful dialog that is keen, witty and original.</p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R3AKO04SWSZR5Y/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1450599109&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=283155&store=books"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Unpredictable action packed mystery. A must read series!</span></a> May 15, 2012</p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;">By <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A346XDSVVA3TBN/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp">Tessa</a></p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;">Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase</p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;">This book was even more gripping than the first! I feel like i've known the characters for a long time and hated to come to the end of the book. This is the first time in reading a book, that i purposely took breaks from the reading to digest all that had happened before continuing on. It was just one shocker after another and amazingly engaging. Izzy's character was so well done that it seemed like i knew her better than the other protagonists. Absolutely LOVE her!</p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;"> </p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;">Like the first book, you will experience a wide range of emotions while reading this. It's intelligent, hot, and witty and will have you laughing with the characters, angry, sad, and in love right along with them. I am still amazed at this author's ability to break the mold of the predictable lesfic genre. She is in my top two of all times and you are missing a gem by not catching up on her work...</p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;">definitely read this book, and read Armchair Detective first. Both are well worth the time and money and better than most of the other books of this genre.</p> <p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14pt;"> </p> <p><font color="#fac090"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="color:#111111;">"</span><span style="color:#111111;">The humor, the drama, the dialogue, the plotting, the characterization--all expertly rendered. It's another can't-put-downer. What a delightful sequel to an already outstanding book (Armchair Detective). We love Baeli's stories and characters, and will never tire of reading her offerings!"</span></span></font><span style="color:#111111;">~</span><span style="color:#111111;"><span style="color:#111111;">KIWI Club Reviews</span></span></p>