Mercy of the Fallen Paperback - 2010

DJ Anderson was born in Wisconsin and raised on the shores of Lake Michigan. A graduate of Stetson University and Wesleyan University, DJ earned a master's degree with her thesis in art, "Behind the Faade," an exploration of what is known and unknown about the individuals in our lives. Mercy of the Fallen explores this same theme, peppered with anecdotes from DJ's life experience, and the stories strangers have told her while waiting in the grocery line. DJ is a noted storyteller and amateur psychoanalyst with an eye for detail. She approaches her writing just as she approaches the world-with compassion and matter-of-fact wisdom. While writing an entirely different novel, the story of Elizabeth and Simon persistently interrupted DJ's creative process until she was forced to turn her full attention to its development. In the throes of the creative process, she spent hours pounding the pavement during long runs, putting miles on her bicycle, and swimming thousands of laps, which served as her private meditation. Not only did she finish the novel, but she also went on to participate in three triathlons. Like her Mercy of the Fallen character, Elizabeth, DJ is also a classically trained pianist and choral singer. Her debut singing experience was at the age of seven when she sang "Que Sera, Sera" on a local radio program. DJ lived in New England for 23 years, but currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is an avid runner, bird watcher, and the director of communications for an independent school.