Flor Fernandez Barrios was born in Cuba.  She immigrated to the United States in 1970 when she was fourteen years old.  She graduated in 1985 from International College with a Doctorate degree in Transpersonal Psychology.  She is currently in private practice as a psychotherapist in Seattle.  In addition to her practice, she is a nationally recognized workshop leader on multicultural issues and spirituality.  Her most recent book, Candela, was published in 2010 by Blue Hat Publishing. Her first book, Blessed by Thunder, was published in 1999 by Seal Press.  Her second book, The Mask of Oya, was published by Liaison Press in 2006.  Her writing has also appeared in Raven Chronicles, and she was one of the featured writers in Seattle Arts magazine celebrating women of color.  Her work has been anthologized in several collections, including Storming Heaven’s Gate: An Anthology of Spiritual Writing by Women; Intimate Nature: The Bond Between Women and Animals; The Fabric of the Future: Women Visionaries Illuminate the Path to Tomorrow; Face to Face: Women Writers on Faith, Mysticism, and Awakening; and I Wanna Be Sedated: 30 Writers on Parenting Teenagers.