Maya Alexandri is an American novelist based in Beijing. In addition to her writing work, she teaches law and consults as a communications specialist to humanitarian and development organizations in Asia and Africa. Maya began her artistic life as a performer. She appeared in many musical and theatrical productions in her formative years, including at the Weathervane Theater in New Hampshire, in the apprentice program at the Berkshire Theater Festival in Massachusetts, and at the Edinburgh Theater Festival in Scotland. Transitioning from the stage to the courtroom, Maya attended law school, after which she clerked for two federal judges and practiced law in Washington, DC. During this time she represented an American client suing a Chinese defendant in Beijing court. The case sparked an interest in China and, in 2004, she moved to Beijing to learn Mandarin Chinese. Maya's articles have appeared in Wall Street Journal Online, Urban World, The South China Morning Post, The China Economic Quarterly, and Eurobiz. She has also published scholarly legal articles. As a visiting professor at Temple University's Beasley School of Law, she has taught at Beijing's Tsinghua University and National Judicial College. Ever the adventuress, Maya is also a communications consultant to humanitarian and development organizations. Among the organizations for which she has worked are: Mercy Corps after the Sichuan earthquake in May 2008; UNAIDS in Beijing; the Jesuit Hakimani Centre in Nairobi, Kenya; RedR India in Pune, India; and the UN Environment Programme in Nairobi. In addition, Maya's work and travels have taken her to Botswana, Cambodia, Cuba, Israel, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, South Africa, Sri Lanka and a variety of destinations in North America and Europe. From time to time, she sings with Beijing-based musicians. Maya holds an undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and a law degree from UCLA School of Law.