Sandra McDonald is an author who writes science fiction and fantasy. She also teaches college composition at Kaplan University online. Before becoming a full-time writer, McDonald spent eight years as an officer in the United States Navy. She has also worked as a Hollywood assistant, a software instructor, and an English teacher. McDonald's first novel, "The Outback Stars," was published in 2007, and was followed by two sequels: "The Stars Down Under" and "The Stars Blue Yonder." Her short story collection, "Diana Comet and Other Improbable Stories," won the Lambda Award for LGBT SF, Fantasy and Horror works in 2011. McDonald received her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Southern Maine, and is a graduate of Ithaca College.