I think I’ve been reading and writing forever. I typed my first book on a manual Smith Corona when I was in sixth grade. It was called “A Little Bit of Me.” The only copy has been missing for years. Maybe someone's waiting for just the right time to sell it on eBay.

I grew up in the        Jenkintown/Abington suburb of Philadelphia, PA where my father had a camera business. I graduated from Elizabethtown College and later earned a master's degree in reading from Arcadia University. 

For over twenty years, I taught elementary school. It was during this time that I started imagining the characters in my first picture book, "Lasso Lou and Cowboy McCoy." (And no, they are not based upon former students...)

In 1998, my husband joined the USPHS and we moved to Cape May Court House, NJ. I “retired” from my teaching job to be a full-time writer. In the fall of 2003, we were transferred to Cape Cod, MA. Some of my favorite things about Cape Cod were the Museum of Science in Boston, Plimouth Plantation, the Coast Guard Beach and Ice Cream Sandwich (located on 6A in Sandwich) which has the best ever non-fat coffee health bar frozen yogurt.

Then, in the summer of 2008, we drove across the country from Cape Cod to Prince Rupert, British Columbia. (Check out my cross-country trip blog.) From there, we boarded a ferry to Southeastern Alaska and our new  home in Ketchikan. For two weeks, our home-sweet-home was the local Holiday Inn while they painted and repaired the home we're renting. The day we moved in, Ketchikan was doing something it does well - raining. Hard. Very hard. All day.

But since then, I have come to like the rain. I like working at my computer in my study. The view out the window is of pine trees, mountains and the mist that floats through it all. In the fall, the mountains are snow-capped and the Narrows is visible out the loft window.

Some of my favorite things about Ketchikan are the many hiking trails, amazing wildlife, the mountain peaks, Herring Cove and fresh (it really  is unbelievable...) salmon. There is so much to do here with monthly art shows, the Monthly Grind (a town talent show), theater productions, and other special events.

Some of my other favorite things (besides reading and writing) are chocolate chip cookies, hiking, biking and playing games with my family. Their antics continue to supply me with writing inspiration. And what's even better - they usually laugh at my jokes.