Mandi Slack grew up in Orangeville, UT, where her father worked as a coal miner for eighteen years In 1987 the coal mines shut down for a time and her father joined the U.S Army They were stationed in Hanau, Germany, and she had the opportunity to explore Europe Mandi s family returned to Utah in 1992, and moved to Orangeville, Utah, where she attended and completed High School She then attended the College of Eastern Utah, where she studied Geology Eventually Mandi changed her major and moved on to Utah State University while she completed a degree in Special Education She then married her best friend, Charles Slack They have three children, two dogs, and a lizard sometimes several lizards.Their family loves to spend time together and one of their favorite things to do is rock hound Her house is littered with rocks and minerals Mandi loves the outdoors and she enjoys writing novels and short stories.