Julie Dill lives in Oklahoma City where the wind always comes sweeping down the plains—literally. As a young girl she always wanted to be a teacher, so she went on to receive her Bachelor's of Science in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and taught in elementary schools for ten years. Currently, she serves as an adjunct professor and loves helping students achieve success. One of her greatest professional accomplishments is earning her National Board Certification. She holds a Master's of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Oklahoma City University and continues to work on various writing projects. From hiking in Colorado, to playing poker in Vegas, she's always up for a new challenge. Julie is a busy mom of two teenage daughters, and any extra time that she may carve out is spent reading, writing, and rooting for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Seventeen year-old Chelsea Knowles is your average teenager. But she's harboring a secret that very few people know: she and her dad can't pay the bills. Broken by his wife leaving, Chelsea's father ignores his parenting responsibilities. Between cheer costs, grocery bills, electricity, and other financial burdens, Chelsea knows it'll be up to her to keep the lights on. She manages to sneak into a casino, and her first big poker win sparks the beginning of downward spiral. Money stops being a problem, but a complicated web of lies begins to spin out of control, threatening to reveal her bluff.