Who she is: Linda Rocker is a novelist, retired judge and avid art collector who divides her time between Cleveland, Chautauqua, N.Y., and Palm Beach Gardens.

Rocker earned a master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University, taught English and was a high school principal before she entered law school at age 40. Going to law school was “a dream fulfilled,” Rocker said. Her father and grandfather were both lawyers, and her father was also a judge, so Rocker was making legal arguments by the time she was in grade school.

After graduating cum laude, the editor of the Law Review became a defense litigator until, in 1989, she was appointed, then elected, to the Common Pleas Court of Cuyahoga County. She continued hearing cases until she retired in 2012, and continues to speak about legal issues.

Rocker has been honored as a leader, a champion of equal rights, and an advocate for the homeless. She has been recognized by Who’s Who in American Women, Cleveland Magazine’s Most Interesting People and The Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame.

In June, 2012, Rocker published her first novel, “Punishment,” a legal thriller and the first novel in a trilogy featuring heroine Casey Portman, a fictitious Palm Beach County courtroom bailiff. Rocker is currently working on the second novel, “Blame,” on the porch of the Frenchman’s Creek home she shares with her husband, Dan Silverberg, a real estate developer. Between them, they have five children and six grandchildren.

A collection of Rocker’s short stories, “The Setting Sun,” will be released in May.

A few of her favorites:

Favorite breakfast place?

My porch is my favorite breakfast place. I’m an admitted news junkie and that’s the best place to spread out the three or four newspapers I read each day (of course, the Palm Beach Post is at the top of stack).

Favorite lunch spot?

My favorite lunch place is the Starbucks on Clematis Street. The yogurt parfait and skinny latte are a perfect combination and so is the mix of stores up and down the street.

Starbucks, 226 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Info: 561- 561-655-9933.

Favorite fine-dining restaurant?

It’s Cafe Chardonnay in Palm Beach Gardens. Consistently delicious, never pretentious.

Café Chardonnay, 4533 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens. Info: 561-627-2662; cafechardonnay.com

Favorite place for a quiet dinner?

Quiet dinners are not easy to find during the season, but I love the ambience at Talay Thai and the food is outstanding.

Tayal Thai, 7100 Fairway Drive, Palm Beach Gardens. Info: 561-691-5662.

Favorite restaurant to take out-of-town guests?

I take guests to Cafe Centro. It’s romantic (the piano music helps), the food is good and the decor is sophisticated. I also like the wait staff, a really important “ingredient” in showing West Palm Beach at its best. Very trendy!

Café Centro, 2409 N. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. Info: 561-514-4070; cafecentrowpb.com

Favorite tourist-y place to take out of towners?

Sunset Grill is a treat. It’s high camp in decor, but the food is surprisingly good (especially the duck) and it makes people smile — a lot.

Sunset Grill, 2500 Broadway, West Palm Beach. Info: 561-832-2722; eatatsunset.com

Favorite boutique or store for browsing or buying?

I love to browse consignment stores. My favorite is True Treasures at Crystal Tree Plaza. Otherwise, I’m not much of a shopper. Just give me a bolt of black cloth and a scarf. I’m good to go.

True Treasures, Crystal Tree Plaza, 1201 U.S. 1, North Palm Beach. Info: 561-625-9569; truetreasuresinc.com

Favorite park?

MacArthur Park is lovely and a wonderful place to spot birds and other wildlife. I don’t get to parks as often as I’d like.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach. Info: 624-6952.

Favorite theatre?

Palm Beach Dramaworks is amazing. My husband and I have been subscribers since the beginning and their new home at the Don and Ann Brown Theatre on Clematis Street has made the experience better than ever.

Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Info: (561) 514-4042; palmbeachdramaworks.org