(1971) in European history,[2] but shifted to computer programming as a profession "when my advisor pointed out that, given the natural rise and fall of demographic curves, tenured university faculty positions were going to be as scarce as hen's teeth for the next twenty-five years and my education was turning into an expensive hobby.
In 1976, after a stint as a programmer for insurance companies, and work on the state task force involved in documenting the New York City bankruptcy crisis, she moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan.
[1] In January 1977, she was injured in an automobile accident while going to pick up Gordon R. Dickson, who was to be a Guest of Honor at that year's ConFusion.
Along with Cinnabar Shadows, all three of Abbey's books written for the Athasian setting take place in and around the City-state of Urik.
[1] She continued to write novels during this period, including original works as well as tie-ins to role playing games for TSR.