Connie Gotsch based the character of Belle from her award-winning Belle series on her dog Kiri. Connie was a resident of Farmington, New Mexico and worked for San Juan College as program director for KSJE, Public Radio for the Four Corners. In that role, she hosted the award-winning morning classical music show, Roving with the Arts, and produced a segment for authors called Write On Four Corners. She loved classical music and opera, and did many radio interviews with famous musicians. In cooperation with the Farmington Public Library, she created the story time program, Cuentos Hahne and Tales for kids and kids at heart. Her writing earned awards on both the state and national levels. Connie passed away on July 15, 2012.