Marnie grew up in Stockton and attended U.C. Berkeley, where she earned a B.A. in English and met her husband, Dane. A shortage of teaching jobs prompted her to set aside her original career plans and take up programming. She worked as a programmer and business analyst in corporate IT departments for over 20 years, most recently at National Semiconductor. Now retired, she is doing volunteer work and happily pursuing her enthusiasm for the liberal and performing arts.