Whitney Gaskell (born 1972) is an American author of eight comedic novels published by Bantam Books. Biography Whitney Gaskell was born on February 8, 1972, in Syracuse, New York. She attended Jamesville-DeWitt High School, and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Syracuse University in 1994. She then attended Tulane Law School, where she was a member of the Tulane Law Review. She served for two years as a law clerk to Paul Womack of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and practiced briefly as a litigator before publishing her first novel, Pushing 30, in 2003. Gaskell is represented by the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency. Gaskell is also the author of the Geek High series of young adult novels published by Penguin Books, writing under the pseudonym Piper Banks. Gaskell lives in South Florida. Novels Pushing 30 (2003) Ellie Winters is dependable and loyal, but has an aversion to conflict. As her thirtieth birthday approaches, she feels uneasy about her life. She has broken up with her boyfriend, despises her job, is irritated by her dysfunctional family, and controlled by her "demanding" pet pug Sally. After a botched attempt to color her hair at home, Ellie rushes to the drugstore for emergency bleach, Sally in tow. Sally is accosted by a dog owned by another drugstore customer—television news anchor Ted Langston. He is witty, intriguing, and attractive, but he's twice her age. The novel concerns their unorthodox May–December romance, and the obstacles they encounter. True Love (and Other Lies) (2004) Travel writer Claire Spencer is seated next to an attractive man, Jack, on a flight from New York to London. She is surprised when he asks her out on a date, since she considers herself to be unattractive because of her unusual height. She is skeptical, but soon finds herself happy at how fast their relationship is moving. While in London, on assignment for Sassy Seniors! magazine, Claire is also looking forward to seeing her best friend, Maddy, whom men have always found to be extremely attractive. For the first time in Maddy's trouble-free life, she has just been dumped. Claire then discovers that Maddy's ex-boyfriend is Jack. Claire struggles with the moral dilemma of finally having met what seems to be the perfect guy, but betraying her best friend. She Myself & I (2005) The three Cassel sisters have little in common. Paige, the oldest, is a divorce attorney