Barbara Mariconda is the author of books for readers of all ages, including The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons which Kirkus Reviews praised for its "dramatic and visually stunning" prose. In writing Bird with the Heart of a Mountain it was a haunting Gypsy melody that first captured the author's imagination, that drew her to Jerez, Spain, and into Drina's world. She serves on the Board of Directors of Flamenco Vivo in NYC, which promotes the art of flamenco to new audiences (www.flamenco-vivo.org) and she strives to empower the next generation of young authors through her company, Empowering Writers. You can visit her online at www.barbaramariconda.com.