I was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, but spent my "wonder years" in Baltimore, Maryland and consider it my hometown. Wanting to be a Park Ranger since a childhood trip to Yellowstone, I attended Colorado State University and graduated with degrees in natural resource management and range conservation. My first career was as an education specialist working for the National Park Service (a Park Ranger!), the U.S. Forest Service, as the Director of Education for the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon and as a Senior Associate for the Institute of Learning Innovation in Annapolis, Maryland. During this career I authored award-winning curriculum-based books used in classrooms nationwide.Encouraged by my friends I decided to launch my second career as a children's book author/publisher. My first book JULES THE LIGHTHOUSE DOG was inspired by my time living at the Pt. Loma lighthouse with my dog Jules. My publishing company, Black Plume Books, was named to honor my Baltimore roots - a nod to Baltimore's favorite adopted son, Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven - and for the love of the big, black birds I developed while living in Alaska. I currently live in Eagle River, Alaska with my husband Buddy and my Shetland Sheepdogs, Dill - the star of my books, KID CANINE-SUPERHERO! and THE CROWDED BACKYARD - and Truman, a star in his own mind! Along with my writing, my husband and my dogs, I am kept busy volunteering at the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, Alaska and at Radio Free Palmer.