Author

Growing up in Ogden, Utah, I spent most of my childhood wishing I had a book to read.

There were no books or magazines in the house I grew up in; my parents did not buy or borrow books. During my elementary years, there wasn’t a library in the school. The traveling Bookmobile would come about once a month, but I had to walk to the school on the weekend to visit the Bookmobile, which was not always possible. When I entered junior high school, there was a library, but I had no idea how to use the resources to find a book.

I made it through high school with mediocre grades. A few years after high school, I decided to become a teacher. After four years of dedication and long hours in the library, I graduated From Weber State University with a degree in Elementary Education. Just before graduating, I received a teaching contract and immediately began to buy and borrow books for my classroom. I bought used books from the library at their annual discard sale and made monthly trips, borrowing 25 books (the limit) at a time for my classroom. I purchased books from my student’s book orders, such as Scholastic and many others. With these books, I created a classroom resource library to complement the curriculum and a second library of exciting books my students could check out.

During the next 30 years, I earned two more degrees and accumulated over 600 books for my classroom library. Becoming an expert in recommending a great book to my students filled me with pride. Upon retiring, I gave away all my beloved books to my students and some to teachers. Many books were so popular with my students that we had to draw straws; I was thrilled that my students wanted a book or two or three!

Teaching my students to write in many genres, including poetry, was rewarding, and I looked forward to reading their creations.

Reading stories to my children, grandchildren, and students made me want to write stories. So, shortly after retirement, I started writing the stories I had been thinking about throughout my teaching career.

Many thanks to the Universities that set me on a fulfilling journey. Weber State University, University of Utah, and Utah State University.

I have published six Picture Books, with five more in various stages of completeness, including chapter books for 9–12-year-olds.

My books have received Two Independent Press Awards, Two Global Book Awards, a Mom’s Choice Award, a gold star from Kirkus book reviews, a 5-star award from Readers Favorites, wonderful editorial reviews, and numerous exciting reviews from readers.

I hope you enjoy reading my stories as much as I enjoyed writing them.

You never know where your childhood experiences will take you.