Mary Robinette Kowal

Mary Robinette Kowal is an American author, translator, art director, and puppeteer born in 1969. She is best known for her science fiction and fantasy writing, including the Lady Astronaut series, and has won multiple Hugo Awards as well as a Nebula and Locus Award.

Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. Feb 8, 1969 Wikipedia Website
science fiction fantasy alternate history