My first "publication" was a hand-stapled, primitive graphic novel, co-written with two boy buddies in fifth grade, about an elephant with a camel's hump filled with a lemonade-like drink called "humphantajuice"--a big hit at school! Since then, I've published many articles, poems, and three books for kids, most recently THE SECRET IN THE WOOD, an ebook about two kids coping with the stress of moving while trying to figure out how to help a trapped tree fairy get unstuck from the wood panel of a bedroom wall.I have worked in publishing as a magazine and manuscript editor, a children's encyclopedia article writer, and an associate literary agent. I now spend my nonwriting hours teaching writing to my favorite kind of people: kids! Since 1997, I have taught private and group writing workshops; school-site, enrichment writing workshops; and summer writing camps and lessons. I sometimes teach teachers, too, and help them with their classroom writing programs. Communication with words is my favorite way of connecting with other people, and the reason I'm equally passionate about writing and teaching! Thank you for reading my books and leaving me your comments--I love to hear from my readers and know that we've connected!