Sandra Jean Paulsen was born on 9 August 1953 in Concordia, Kansas, USA. She graduated of Cloud County Community College, and worked as Secretary for Brown Business Service. On 23 October 1973, she married Joseph Benjamin Detrixhe, and they had three children; Jonathan Joshep (1975), Eden Jean (1978) and Paul Benjamin (1981). She was published under the pseudonyms of Cassandra Austin and Sandra August.
