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Sarah Lee Marks, (pen-name, Lander Marks), is an accomplished artist, contemporary art collector, and culinary aficionado. An automotive industry executive, Marks is also the author of Reservations Required: Culinary Secrets of Las Vegas' Celebrity Chefs (Huntington Press). The idea for Artist's Proof, her debut novel, came to her while on a cruise to the European cities of her ancestors. Researching the art that disappeared during the Nazi era furthered her interest in crafting a story combining romance on the high seas with a murder mystery including art fakes and missing masterpieces. Marks lives in Henderson, Nevada with her husband and daughter. Her alter ego, DJ Singer will continue her misadventures and challenges in future novels.

What's with the Name: Lander Marks?
An Explanation from the Author

My maiden name is Lander. Descended from the original family name: Russlander, brought to this country by two brothers back in the day (as the story was told to me by my dad.) One brother took the name Russell and set off for New York. The other brother took the name Lander and headed for Boston.

My husband's family shortened their name Markowitz to Marks, in the second generation of life in this country. As I have no sons or male nephews, I took the family name Lander, joined it with my married name Marks, to acknowledge this element of the Jewish immigrant experience as known to me. I consider this pen name a fitting tribute to both families, and a subtle piece of the evolution of the book.

(An interesting side note. The legendary Washington political satirist Mark Russell is said to be from the Russell side of this family tree. He looks amazingly like my father and Uncle Robert, Dad's identical twin brother.)