Born on August 15, 1962, the feast of the Assumption, Elena grew up in the countryside outside of Frederick, Maryland. She graduated in 1984 from Hood College in Frederick with a BA in Psychology, and in 1985 from the State University of New York at Albany with an MA in Modern European History. In 1986, Elena joined the Secular Order of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. In 1997 her first historical novel TRIANON was published. In 2000, the sequel MADAME ROYALE was published, as well as the second edition of Trianon, by The Neumann Press. November 2009 saw the publication of THE NIGHT'S DARK SHADE: A NOVEL OF THE CATHARS Elena is currently working on a historical novel about her Irish ancestors. She lives in State College, PA with her husband and daughter and blogs at http://teaattrianon.blogspot.com/.