Carroll Thomas is the pen name of two writers, Carole Shmurak and Thomas Ratliff. Carole Shmurak has taught biology and chemistry in middle and high schools, and is currently Professor Emerita of education at Central Connecticut State University. She also writes the Susan Lombardi mysteries for adults under her own name. Tom Ratliff has taught social studies and English in middle and high schools and is currently an instructor of Connecticut history at Central Connecticut State University. He is the author of several books for young readers as well as a dozen serialized stories for the Newspapers in Education Program. His work has been published by the National Geographic Society, Barrons, Scholastic Books, and Salariya Publishers of London. Together, they write as Carroll Thomas and are authors of the young adult series that includes Matty's War, Blue Creek Farm, the Agatha-nominated Ring Out Wild Bells, Riding By Starlight, The Town on Rambling Creek, and Under the Open Sky. Find out more at their website: www.matty-trescott.com.