Ellen Butler is the internationally bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C. inspired the mystery-action series. Book critics call the Karina Cardinal mysteries, "intelligent escapism" and "unputdownable adventures that will take readers on an electrifying yet light-hearted and humorous journey." Ellen is also the author of the award-winning historical suspense novel, The Brass Compass, which has won multiple awards for historical fiction including: 2022 Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Book Award, 2018 IndieReader Discovery Award, and the 2019 Readers' Favorite Silver Medal Winner. Ellen initially started writing in the romance genre and won the The Romance Reviews Readers' Choice Award 2015 with her novel, Planning for Love. Her 12th book, Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel, hit bookstores in fall 2022. Butler is a member of Virginia Writers Club, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the 2022 Speaker Coordinator for the Chessie Chapter of SinC. She is a hybrid author—both traditionally and indie published—and regularly attends conferences to share her writing and publishing experiences through workshops, presentations, and panel sessions. Visit Ellen's website at www.EllenButler.net.