Deborah Chester (born 1957) is an American author of over 40 books, primarily science fiction and fantasy novels. She currently holds the John Crain Presidential Professorship at the University of Oklahoma, teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses on writing style and structure in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Chester began her career penning romance novels but eventually moved into a variety of genres including adult fiction, science fiction, and fantasy. She has written novels based on popular science fiction television series such as Lucasfilm's Alien Chronicles and Earth 2. Ace Books released Chester's newest novel, The Pearls, on November 27, 2007. Jim Butcher, author of The Dresden Files, has named her as his primary mentor. Source: Wikipedia (en)