I have been writing since I could hold a crayon! First, I wrote and illustrated books for my dolls and teddy bears! These "books" consisted of a page of typing paper folded into fourths and filled with words and colorful crayon illustrations. Then, I graduated to writing imaginative stories in grade school. Once, a teacher even phoned my mother to ask if there really WERE gypsies living in our woods! A vivid imagination is a wonderful thing! My latest book comes from several years of research in the mountains of West Virginia. My husband, Mike, and I love to wander the back roads and talk to the interesting folks we meet. In the process, we hear so many fascinating stories and tales of the people and old ways in the mountains. I wanted to record as many folkways and stories as I could so that they would be preserved in an easily readable format for the average person to enjoy. This book, "Mountain Mists: Appalachian Folkways of West Virginia," is a book to be read and enjoyed on a cold, rainy night while the branches lash against the window and a fire burns bright in the fireplace. I love to go cycling on the RailTrails in Pennsylvania and West Virginia in nice weather with my husband. This is a great way to see out-of-the-way wilderness areas where the old railroads once hauled timber, coal, and other raw materials through the river valleys. Reading, writing, growing things, and cycling are my hobbies! My granddaughter, Kaya Valentina, is my passion! As a geographer, I have written several books on geographic themes, too. I have written books on Ethiopia, New Zealand, and Bahrain for Chelsea House.