Mona D. Sizer was a teacher, conference speaker and author of fiction and non-fiction works that included biography, history, poetry, memoir and short stories. A Valley native, Sizer was born and raised in Raymondville, Texas. She earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from Texas Woman's University. Starting her career as a teacher, Sizer transitioned to becoming a writer. Sizer was the author of historical and contemporary romance novels set in the RGV under the pen name Deana James, histories and biographies for Taylor Trade Publishing, a self-published memoir, short stories and contributed to several anthologies. Sizer was a charter member of the Romance Writers of America® (RWA), was a member of the Narciso Marquez International Poetry Society and a lifetime member of the writer’s group Valley Byliners. (Source: Museum of South Texas History) Mona Dean Sizer wrote historical romances for Zebra as Deana James and a few romances as Rachel Davis.