One of my earliest memories is at the Brooklyn Public Library with my grandmother, checking out The Story About Ping, the Chinese duck. When I grew older, I often spent Saturday afternoons at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. The artwork from around the world fascinated me.
My family moved to Seattle, Washington when I was a teenager. After I married, I enjoyed library visits with my two sons where I introduced them to the magical world of books. Meanwhile, I pursued my dream to write for children. In 1986 I earned my B.A. in English in the Creative Writing track from the University of Washington. Over the following years, I continued learning about children's literature while attending conferences as a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. My fiction and nonfiction have appeared in children's magazines, and the L.A. Times. I love to write books to encourage children to follow their dreams. My first book, Mary Cassatt: Impressionist Painter, was published by Pelican Publishing Company in 2007. They just released my second book, Charlie Russell, Tale-Telling Cowboy Artist. (In the Selected Works coIumn, click on the book's title to learn more.)
I live with my family and two cats in Anacortes in the northwest corner of Washington State. When I'm not writing, you might find me on our boat watching for whales in the nearby beautiful San Juan Islands or Canada.
Sunset at Shallow Bay
