Kara R. Newcastle is the author of NIKE, PART 1: THE DEMON ROAD, the first in a projected nine-part fantasy series about the trials and adventures of Nike, the ancient Greek goddess of victory. Kara grew up in central Massachusetts in an area that once boasted of having more cows than human inhabitants. She developed a passion for reading early in life, but gradually became increasingly frustrated that she couldn't find any books that portrayed girls in heroic main roles aside from being babysitters or amateur detectives, or anything about famous warrior women in history aside from Joan of Arc. In 1996, Kara was given an assignment to research a deity from Greek mythology, and chose Nike, the goddess of victory. To her disbelief, Kara discovered that though Nike was highly regarded in ancient times, there were practically no myths about her. In response, Kara began writing new "mythology" about Nike, resulting in her first self-published work NIKE, PART 1: THE DEMON ROAD. Kara draws inspiration from a variety of mythologies, fairy and folk tales, legends, historical events and people from around the world. In addition to the NIKE books, she is also writing a horror mystery series inspired by the Salem witch trials, a reworking of the classic fairy tale The White Cat, a trilogy of Arthurian fantasy and a vampire detective series (among many others!)