SAMANTHA BEAL was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Western Pennsylvania. In high school, she started reporting on business and events for local newspapers.

       While earning a degree in English from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, her beat expanded to education, health, government, and crime. Graduating from CUP in 2018, she was hired as a full-time reporter covering development of Pittsburgh's fastest-growing suburb. After two years of reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic and covering the 2020 presidential election, Samm walked out of the newsroom and didn't look back.

       Now, she lives in Butler, PA, where she's learned to balance work and happiness while living life to the hilt. You'll find her happily slinging lattes for Starbucks while plotting her next revenge novel.