Astrid Sheckels cannot remember a time when she was not telling or illustrating stories, especially ones involving imaginary animals. A native of western Massachusetts and growing up in an artistic family, Astrid spent her childhood playing outside, using her imagination, and drawing. Her debut picture book as an author/illustrator is the award-winning "Nic and Nellie" (Islandport Press, 2013), which has quickly been followed by her second book, "Hector Fox and the Giant Quest" (Premiere, 2014). As an illustrator, her other award-winning titles include "The Scallop Christmas" (Islandport Press, 2009) and "The Fish House Door" (Islandport Press, 2010). She has illustrated the picture book "Hope Somewhere in America" (Twin Lights Publishers, 2012) and the two chapter books, "Black Cloud" and "Tennessee Rose", in the Horse Diaries series (Random House, 2012).