Molly Odegard Nikolic, born in Madison, is a member of the national professional fraternity Phi Beta. She has a bachelor of history degree from Edgewood College in Madison. She was first published after winning first prize in a worldwide essay contest to preserve the Serbian language, receiving the prize in Zurich. She is the author of two other books: "Yesterday Dawns Today" and "Incidents of Life." She is a gourmet cook, loves her gourmet club and has worked as an extra in a number of films shot in the area. Living with her husband, two cats and in a new condominium, she describes herself as a domestic engineer.