Nancy received her Doctorate in English and Film Studies from Drake University. She earned an M.A. in 19th Century British Literature and an A.B. degree in English and History at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
She is the author of four published books: John Schlesinger: A Guide to References and Resources; The Hollywood Novel: 1912-1982; A Life in Time: Brown Munro, Sr. (1829-1909), and Lives to Share.
She has been a university teacher, editor, and Administrative Assistant in the Iowa House of Representatives.
She spent two years working in the Records Division of the Ames Police Department and later volunteered there, and two years assisting at the Adult Probation and Parole Office in Ames.
She has a completed manuscript — waiting for that last chapter when the case is solved! — about the January 1968 murder of Iowa State University student Sheila Jean Collins and is writing a book detailing Iowa murders from 1847 to 1949.
Nancy lives in Ames, Iowa, with her husband Neal, ISU Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences Emeritus, and their six special-needs rescue cats.
