NADINE LAMAN was born and raised in Los Angeles County, California, USA. She grew up in the turbulent times of social unrest, which shaped the person she was to become.

In sixth grade, she changed schools midyear. The new school was in the midst of a spelling contest between the two sixth grade classes. Although, she knew every word perfectly the night before, she bombed the test by missing two words. The teacher called her before the class and said, “Look at everyone.” She explained that Nadine had lost the completion for the class. Then she said, “I don’t know if you’re stupid or lazy.” The answer is, neither, Nadine is dyslexic. She taught herself to read at age 14.

In high school, the counselor couldn’t fit chemistry into Nadine’s class schedule, so she put her in Creative Writing—of all things! She also took the advanced writing class, then writing classes at the local community college. Nadine never once wanted to be a writer. Not once.

Apparently not stupid or lazy, Nadine attended nursing school at a small Catholic college. Toward the end of her junior year, Sister Mary Ellen stopped her in the hall and told her that she was doing “fine,” but would be a better social worker. She wanted Nadine to take a social work class at Arizona State University that summer when she went home to Arizona. Nadine didn’t even know social work was a “thing.” Inside her head, Nadine was saying an emphatic NO! Out of her mouth came, “Yes, Sister.”

Assuming that lying is never good, but probably worse if lying to a nun, Nadine attended the class at ASU that summer. No doubt with a bit of an attitude, she sat in the first class intent on the ability to return to Sister Mary Ellen saying that she tried it and it wasn’t for her. Unfortunately, within minutes into the lecture, Nadine realized it was for her. She returned to tell Sister Mary Ellen that she was right. Nadine went on to get a bachelor degree in Social Work, with honors. This story isn’t about Sister Mary Ellen or Nadine; it is about that it only takes 5 minutes to change someone’s life for the better.

The writing skills paid off when she was a child abuse investigator and had to write court reports to the county attorney. Nadine became the American moderator on an UK writing forum. She helped people navigate to become published. Someone asked Nadine why she didn’t become a publisher. Cactus Rain Publishing was created. It publishes fiction from authors around the world.

Years later during a blizzard, a friend called saying she had nothing to read. Said friend reads like normal people breathe. Nadine promised to email her something to read. She sent a short story, but the friend asked daily to know what happened next. Nadine sent her a chapter every night after she got her kids to bed. It became a trilogy that was republished in 2025, as a 25th Anniversary release. The Trilogy: Kathryn’s Beach, High Tide, Storm Surge. https://cactusrainpublishing.com/the-trilogy/