The Crystal's Curse by Jane Alden

Jane Alden was born and raised in a small Mississippi River Delta community in Arkansas where everyone knew everyone else. After graduating from the University of Arkansas, she taught 7th grade English in Porterville, California, and later moved to Los Angeles to begin a career in health care management. After many lucky circumstances and thanks to wonderful mentors, she became a successful hospital administrator and is presently an executive coach.

Jane and her partner of thirty years live in a small town thirty miles east of metropolitan Los Angeles. Their chocolate lab, Delilah, is the captain of the domestic ship.