About the Author

Jennifer Shay Carta grew up as the middle child between two much taller brothers in the seemingly idyllic state of Connecticut. After graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s in Drama from Northeastern University, Carta moved to New York City and pounded the pavement toward her dream. She worked as a sales associate and personal stylist at Barney’s New York, Nicole Miller SoHo, then jumped into temping for flexibility - anything that would allow her to make auditions and pay the bills. She bounced from one apartment to another to save on rent: from midtown Manhattan to Hell’s Kitchen, from Avenue A to a short-lived studio share on the Upper East Side, and finally, settling in a West Village shoebox she could call her own.

Her dedication to the craft, and commitment to “make it”, paid off when she landed her first guest star on Law & Order. Her big break came when she had her Broadway debut in the Tony Award–winning Side Man, covering for the exquisite Angelica Page. She went on to understudy the female leads in David Auburn’s Pulitzer Prize–winning PROOF during its Broadway national tour. Eventually, Jennifer joined the Broadway cast, finally playing the psychologically complex Catherine to standing ovations. Carta continued working both on stage and on screen when she moved to Los Angeles.

Los Angeles brought new chapters—various television and film work, screenwriting, and then, another career as a certified massage therapist. It’s here where author Jennifer Shay Carta met the diversely talented actor and drummer, Jeffrey Nicholas Brown. He soon became her husband and they now live in Los Angeles and are proud parents of their son, Oliver, and dear Golden Retriever rescue, Sadie.