Sarah Andrews (author)
Encyclopedia
Sarah Andrews is an America
n geologist
and author
of eleven science-based mystery novels. Many of the novels featuring forensic geologist Em Hansen take place in the Rocky Mountains
region of the United States. In 2005, Sarah was awarded an Artists and Writers grant by the National Science Foundation
and deployed through mcMurdo Station, Antarctica to remote field camps to research an eleventh novel featuring fictional glaciologist Valena Walker. Sarah has won numerous other awards for her writings, including the American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Journalism Award (now called the Geosciences in the Media Award).
Sarah Andrews grew up on the East Coast of the United States
. Her father was an artist and art teacher and her mother, a teacher of English and comparative religions. Since childhood, she had a passion for exploring the great outdoors, including sailing with her father and wandering solo through the woods and fields during the family's long summers in rural Maine. She left New England to attend college, earning a BA in geology from Colorado College
. After college, she stayed in Colorado, working first as a plumber's apprentice on a construction site south of Colorado Springs. When kidded by coworkers about where her "fancy education" had gotten her, she happily taught them about the ancient seaway that had once existed in the area, sharing the fossils she had found up while digging for drain pipes that had been buried by the backhoe. She next took a job at the U.S. Geological Survey, working under legendary Grand Canyon
geologist Edwin D. McKee, who had begun his career as Park Naturalist in 1929. She went on to earn a MS
in Earth Resources from Colorado State University
, studying with Frank Ethridge, then worked as a petroleum geologist with Amoco
and ANGUS Petroleum. After being laid off during the oil "bust" of 1986, she moved to California
, where she worked as an environmental consultant, began to write, and lectured in the Geology Department at Sonoma State University
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of eleven science-based mystery novels. Many of the novels featuring forensic geologist Em Hansen take place in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
region of the United States. In 2005, Sarah was awarded an Artists and Writers grant by the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
and deployed through mcMurdo Station, Antarctica to remote field camps to research an eleventh novel featuring fictional glaciologist Valena Walker. Sarah has won numerous other awards for her writings, including the American Association of Petroleum Geologists
American Association of Petroleum Geologists
The American Association of Petroleum Geologists is one of the world's largest professional geological societies with over 31,000 members as of 2007. The AAPG works to advance the science of geology , to promote technology, and to inspire high professional conduct...
Journalism Award (now called the Geosciences in the Media Award).
Sarah Andrews grew up on the East Coast of the United States
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
. Her father was an artist and art teacher and her mother, a teacher of English and comparative religions. Since childhood, she had a passion for exploring the great outdoors, including sailing with her father and wandering solo through the woods and fields during the family's long summers in rural Maine. She left New England to attend college, earning a BA in geology from Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
. After college, she stayed in Colorado, working first as a plumber's apprentice on a construction site south of Colorado Springs. When kidded by coworkers about where her "fancy education" had gotten her, she happily taught them about the ancient seaway that had once existed in the area, sharing the fossils she had found up while digging for drain pipes that had been buried by the backhoe. She next took a job at the U.S. Geological Survey, working under legendary Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
geologist Edwin D. McKee, who had begun his career as Park Naturalist in 1929. She went on to earn a MS
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Earth Resources from Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
, studying with Frank Ethridge, then worked as a petroleum geologist with Amoco
Amoco
Amoco Corporation, originally Standard Oil Company , was a global chemical and oil company, founded in 1889 around a refinery located in Whiting, Indiana, United States....
and ANGUS Petroleum. After being laid off during the oil "bust" of 1986, she moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where she worked as an environmental consultant, began to write, and lectured in the Geology Department at Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University is a public, coeducational business and liberal arts college affiliated with the California State University system. The main campus is located in Rohnert Park, California, United States and lies approximately south of Santa Rosa and north of San Francisco...
.
Novels
- Tensleep - 1994
- A Fall in Denver - 1995
- Mother Nature - 1997
- Only Flesh and Bones - 1998
- Bone Hunter - 1999
- An Eye For Gold - 2000
- Fault Line - 2002
- Killer Dust - 2003
- Earth Colors - 2004
- Dead Dry - 2005
- In Cold Pursuit - 2007
External links
- Official website of Sarah Andrews Has photographs of Sarah. Follow the WHITE PAGES link to read her series of articles about spatial and four-dimensional thinking, The Mind of the Geologist. Follow the CURRICULUM VITAE link for a complete listing of Sarah's publications.
- Audio of KQED (NPR) radio interview of Sarah Andrews
- Publishers Weekly review of Bone Hunter
- Salon.com review of A Fall in Denver
- Macmillan Speakers Bureau profile