Patti Bess is the author of Vegetarian Barbecue and a regular columnist for the Grass Valley Union. Other writing and recipe development appeared in Sierra Heritage, Delicious Living, Woman's Day, Fit, Country Journal, Sierra Alive, Cooking Pleasures, Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications, Weight Watchers and others.

Patti began teaching vegetarian cooking classes in 1977. She was a teacher for Community Service Programs at Sierra, Yuba, and American River Colleges. Patti also designed and implemented a Kids Kan Kook program for Petaluma Unified School District and taught meal planning and gardening to mentally disabled adults in Santa Cruz.

An avid gardener, Patti and her family moved to the Sierra foothills in 1989. She has been a broadcaster for five years and is a member of the local food coalition, Sierra Writers and the Managing Council for the Self Realization Fellowship meditation group.

Patti earned a BS in Home Economics from the University of Illinois and BA in Expressive Arts from California State University, Sonoma.