Wednesday, April 30, 2025

To Light the Way Forward by Nancy Naigle GIVEAWAY!

Feeling adrift after the loss of her husband, Rosemary sets out to visit an old friend on Whelk’s Island, undeterred by the threat of a hurricane. Before the storm hits, she finds herself at Tug’s Diner where she quickly connects with the owner, Tug.

But the storm destroys the diner, compounding Tug’s grief from losing his love the previous year. The longer Rosemary stays, the more she sees Tug’s deep sadness and resolves to help him. Together with Tug and friends Amanda and Paul, they all pitch in to help the close-knit community recover and rebuild.

As Amanda and Paul reconnect after losing touch during the storm, their plans to take things slow seem increasingly impractical. While Rosemary and Tug help the young couple navigate their relationship, they also find themselves building a friendship that begins to restore them both. But can that friendship convince them that love is possible for anyone who’s willing to take a risk—even those who never hoped they’d find it again?

Pick up your copy here...



 USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle whips up small-town love stories with a whole lot of heart. She began writing while juggling a successful career in finance and life on a seventy-six-acre farm. Now happily retired from a career in the financial industry, this Virginia girl devotes her time to writing, antiquing, and spa days with friends.

Several of Nancy's novels have been adapted for television. You can find the complete list of movies and a free downloadable checklist of all of Nancy's books in series order on her website.


My Thoughts...
I loved The Shell Collector is has been a favorite of mine for years. But then Naigle takes us back to Whelk's Island and gives us Tugs story and I could not have been happier. I enjoyed this sweet romance and getting to catch up with the characters from book one was so much fun. I highly recommend this book.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter GIVEAWAY!


 Maggie Reynolds is finally ready for love again—until the past shows up in the form of someone who may or may not be the late husband she thought she'd lost.

Five years after her husband's death, Maggie is finally ready to let go of him and the dreams she had for their future. A summer at Seabrook, where she and Ethan first became childhood sweethearts, seems the perfect time and place to find closure. Plus, she gets to spend time with his family, the Reynoldses, whom she loves like her own.

Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother-in-law, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with her since they first met all those years ago. But his brother ultimately won Maggie's heart, and Josh's unrequited love has ruined all his relationships. If Maggie is ready to move on, then Josh is ready to lay it all on the line and come clean about his true feelings for her.

But his plans soon get put on hold when, shortly after Maggie returns to Seabrook, she runs into a man who could pass for Ethan's twin. But he disappears into the amusement park crowd before she can confront him.

The event rattles Maggie, stirs up impossible questions, and sends Josh and her on a quest to discover the man's true identity. But their search ends up raising more questions than answers—and soon Maggie isn't sure she wants those answers after all.

Pick up your copy here...


Denise Hunter is the internationally-published bestselling author of more than forty novels, three of which have been adapted into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on the The 700 Club and been featured in Southern Living and Woman's World.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

When Denise isn't orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling, drinking chai lattes, hiking, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband raised three boys and are currently enjoying an empty nest and four beautiful grandchildren.

My Thoughts...
I love a good emotional read, and Hunter delivered a good one this time. Single parenting and some struggles and a little romance Hunter really gave it all to us with this book.
This is one I will be recommending to friends.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Monday, April 28, 2025

Voice of the Ocean by Kelsey Impicciche GIVEAWAY!


 From popular content creator Kelsey Impicciche, Voice of the Ocean follows a daring young siren who defies her people to save a human prince, unearthing ancient magic and igniting a dangerous romance amid treacherous waters.

As the youngest daughter of the siren queen, Celeste's life is tightly controlled. Desperate to prove her worth and escape her destiny--trapped in the palace as a royal figurehead--she intends to join the Chorus, an elite group of siren warriors. With the final test on the horizon, Celeste feels the pressure to finally gain control over her temperamental Song--a magic gifted by the Goddess herself. But when Celeste encounters a seemingly harmless ship in Staria's waters, helmed by the intriguing Prince Raiden Sharp, her path veers toward forbidden waters.

Believing the handsome sailor to be innocent of any wrongdoing, Celeste defies siren law to save Raiden's life--despite knowing he is the son of a king who has murdered many of her kindred. The penalty for Celeste's betrayal should be death, but the queen offers her an alternative: right her wrong by assassinating the prince. Determined to first discover the truth behind the prince's clandestine mission, Celeste agrees to become human.

But the human world is nothing like she expected, nor is the prince the charming and noble man she assumed him to be. Disguised among Raiden's ragtag crew, she searches for the truth. But as Celeste finds her place aboard the ship, friendships--and attraction--begin to grow. Will Celeste be able to do what must be done? Or will her choices unravel a kingdom, devastating sirens and humans alike?

Pick up your copy here...



Kelsey Impicciche is a professional YouTuber and Twitch streamer with over a billion minutes viewed across various platforms, which altogether means she plays video games for a living.

When Kelsey isn't making simulated characters fall in love online, she's writing about different characters falling in love in very difficult situations.

Voice of the Ocean is her first novel, with the hopes of this becoming a regular thing. In the meantime, Kelsey can be found sitting beside her dog Chewbacca or making fun videos about books and games online @kelseydangerous.

Sunday, April 27, 2025

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick GIVEAWAY!

 

Margaret Ryan never really meant to start a book club . . . or a feminist revolution in her buttoned-up suburb.

By 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan is living the American woman's dream. She has a husband, three children, a station wagon, and a home in Concordia--one of Northern Virginia's most exclusive and picturesque suburbs. She has a standing invitation to the neighborhood coffee klatch, and now, thanks to her husband, a new subscription to A Woman's Place--a magazine that tells housewives like Margaret exactly who to be and what to buy. On paper, she has it all. So why doesn't that feel like enough?

Margaret is thrown for a loop when she first meets Charlotte Gustafson, Concordia's newest and most intriguing resident. As an excuse to be in the mysterious Charlotte's orbit, Margaret concocts a book club get-together and invites two other neighborhood women--Bitsy and Viv--to the inaugural meeting. As the women share secrets, cocktails, and their honest reactions to the controversial bestseller The Feminine Mystique, they begin to discover that the American dream they'd been sold isn't all roses and sunshine--and that their secret longing for more is something they share. Nicknaming themselves the Bettys, after Betty Friedan, these four friends have no idea their impromptu club and the books they read together will become the glue that helps them hold fast through tears, triumphs, angst, and arguments--and what will prove to be the most consequential and freeing year of their lives.
Pick up your copy here...                                                                                                                                     Amazon.com: The Book Club for Troublesome Women: A Novel: 9781400344741: Bostwick, Marie: Books

Marie Bostwick is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than twenty works of uplifting contemporary and historical fiction. Translated into a dozen languages, Marie’s novels are beloved by readers across the globe. Her 2009 book, A Thread of Truth, was an “Indie Next Notable” pick. Three of her books were published as Reader's Digest “Select Editions.” Marie lives in Washington state with her husband and a beautiful but moderately spoiled Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Connect with her online at mariebostwick.com

Thursday, April 24, 2025

The Love Fix by Jill Shalvis GIVEAWAY!


 Welcome back to Sunrise Cove for this heartwarming enemies-to-lovers tale where found family, forgiveness, and love may just be the key to finding yourself, from New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis.

Lexi Clark’s life is falling apart around her, so when she’s summoned home to Sunrise Cove, the last thing she wants to do is face all the complications she left behind. Her past, her stepsister Ashley, and especially her infuriatingly gorgeous childhood nemesis-turned-crush Heath Bowman.

Yep, Lexi’s pretty sure being home again just might kill her. She’s an overachieving art appraiser who doesn’t believe in trust, love, or Happily Ever Afters. Free spirit Ashley, on the other hand, is so full of life it hurts to look at her. But Lexi can’t refuse Ashley’s plea to honor their late mother’s final wish to make amends with the people she’d wronged.  So, on behalf of her estranged mother’s estate—and with Heath in tow as the executor—Lexi embarks on a road trip to repay all the people her gambling addicted mother owed money to. 

Complicating everything are the feelings that well up for Lexi: for her mom, for Ashley, and most of all, for Heath. And for the record, she doesn’t like it, or the way he has of scaling the walls she’s built around her heart. The road trip shenanigans that ensue are both funny and heartbreaking, but Lexi finds something shocking along the way. Acceptance. Family. And unbelievably—if you ask Lexi anyway—love.

Pick up your copy here...



New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis writes contemporary romance and romantic comedies filled with madcap adventures and shenanigans and sexy times. (just don’t tell her mom). She’s sold 20 million plus copies worldwide to date and lives with her family in a small mountain town near Lake Tahoe full of quirky characters (Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is mostly coincidental).

Facebook @JillShalvis

Instagram @Jillshalvis


I have yet to meet a Shalvis book that I didn't really enjoy. And I loved going back to Sunrise Cove and I devoured The Love Fix in one sitting.  Found family, and finding yourself is the best story to me.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Sheet Pan Cookbook by Hungry Girl


 One-Pan Wonders Under 400 Calories! Get sheet smart with this essential recipe collection centered around a kitchen MVP― a simple baking sheet!


With an emphasis on wholesome ingredients like fresh produce and lean proteins, these delicious, easy meals and more make healthy eating a breeze. Get ready for . . .

The Best Breakfasts: Protein-packed “Flattatas,” make-ahead pancake bars, and beyond.
Lunches & Dinners: Meatloaves, chicken entrées, low-carb pizzas & more!
Savory Snacks & Sides: Everything from party foods (bell pepper nachos and pepperoni pizza bites) to flavorful roasted veggies for every meal.
Sweet Desserts: Cool & creamy frozen yogurt bark, decadent yet light brownie crisps . . . even sheet pan apple pie!

Featuring . . . 5-ingredient recipes, 30-minute meals, vegetarian recipes, and loads of gluten-free options!

Bonus! Sheet pan basics, time-saving tips, shopping tricks, ideas for leftovers . . . What can’t this book do for you?

Grab a sheet pan and your appetite― these tasty recipes make eating smart astonishingly easy!

Pick up your copy here...

She's not a nutritionist; she's just hungry! Lisa Lillien is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and the creator of the beloved Hungry Girl brand. Millions of fans eagerly await her healthy recipes, smart food finds, and tips & tricks each day, via her free daily emails, podcast, and social media platforms. She is a self-proclaimed "foodologist" and an expert in smart-eating solutions. Sign up for the free daily emails on the Hungry Girl website.

Fast easy recipes that use easy to find ingredients. this is a must in everyone's kitchen.
I love Hungry Girls cookbooks and the make the best gifts too.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.


Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Bless the Earth by June Cotner


 A beautifully illustrated collection of poems and prayers to help children develop an appreciation for the natural world


WINNER OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS AWARD

Bless the Earth, our faithful friend,
her mountain range and river bend,
her forest green and canopy,
the hidden world of bended trees.

Bless the Earth shows the miracle of our planet Earth through beautiful imagery and delightful poetry, calling all people, young and old, to care for our wonderful world. This sweet and welcoming anthology for children ages 3-7 knits together our common humanity and the natural world in an engaging way that is simple for young readers to understand.

Bless the Earth contains approximately sixty selections of original as well as classic poems, divided into five chapters each:
  • Dreams for My World
  • Earth and Sky
  • All Creatures, Big and Small
  • Seasons
  • Caring for Our World

Bless the Earth calls us again and again to understand how important it is to care for our world, respect our neighbors—humans, plants, and animals alike—and reimagine a world that is healthy and whole.

Pick up your copy here....


Nancy Tupper Ling is the winner of the prestigious Writer’s Digest Grand Prize and the Pat Parnell Poetry Award. She draws her inspiration from the multicultural background of her family and the interwoven fabric of familial culture which is, on the surface, seemingly every day. Her latest books are Hearts In My Pocket (Union Square Kids), Bless the Earth with coauthor, June Cotner (Penguin/Convergent) and One Perfect Plan: The Bible's Big Story in Tiny Poems (Penguin/Waterbrook). For Every Little Thing: Poems and Prayers to Celebrate the Day (Eerdmans) was a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection and winner of the Northern Lights Mindfulness Award. Her other books include The Yin-Yang Sisters and the Dragon Frightful (Penguin), Family Celebrations (Andrews McMeel), My Sister, Alicia May (Pleasant Street Press), Double Happiness (Chronicle Books), The Story I’ll Tell (Lee & Low Books). Ling is the founder of Fine Line Poets and she loves to bring poetry into the classroom.


June Cotner is a publishing consultant and the author of 37 books, including the bestselling GRACES and HOUSE BLESSINGS. Collectively, her books have sold more than one million copies and have earned praise in many national publications including USA Today, Better Homes & Gardens, Woman's Day, and Family Circle. June has appeared on national television and radio programs as well as local television including "New Day Northwest" and "AM Northwest." June is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. Through Book Proposal Services, she evaluates nonfiction book proposals and analyzes concepts for books. See "Consulting" at www.JuneCotner.com. Her books have been published by major houses including Random House, HarperCollins, and Hachette. She has also enjoyed working with mid-size publishers such as Andrews McMeel and Chronicle Books. Her newest book is HEY! IT'S YOUR DAY: Inspirational Quotes and Affirmations to Live By (Jan 2021).

Quotation: "Creativity, for me, involves connections. As an anthologist, I love finding the perfect quote for a specific book. As a publishing consultant, I greatly enjoy helping clients create the best possible proposals to secure excellent advances."

Fun tidbit: June has always loved playing with creative ideas, including starting the first "dormie" powder puff football game at U.C. Berkeley, I ETA PI, that competed against sorority teams and went on to become "a football dynasty," as reported in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Visit her website at www.JuneCotner.com

Monday, April 21, 2025

Magic In a Drop of Water by Julie Winterbottom

 

An entertaining and gorgeous picture book biography of scientist and environmental hero Ruth Patrick, one of the first to warn about the dangers of pollution.

A brilliant scientist and intrepid explorer, the ecologist Ruth Patrick taught the world how to care for the environment. She studied water pollution long before it became a public concern and gave other scientists the tools to do something about it. Born in 1907, Ruth Patrick was one of the only women in her field when she made her breakthrough discovery about biodiversity and the ecosystem of rivers, forever changing how ecologists understand pollution.

Lyrically, joyfully written, exquisitely illustrated, and full of fascinating details and a rich afterword and timeline, this STEM biography will inspire readers who love the environment to follow their passion and curiosity.

Pick up your copy here...


Julie Winterbottom is the author of Magic in a Drop Water: How Ruth Patrick Taught the World about Water Pollution and two humor books for middle-grade kids, Pranklopedia and What a Blast! She lives in Beacon, New York.

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Spring's Miracles by Kaitlin Curtice


 A vibrantly illustrated children's book about an Indigenous girl who discovers the miracles that blossom each spring and learns how Creator's gift of courage can transform the way we see the world and ourselves.


It’s time to welcome a new season, and this spring is going to be extra special. Dani, a Potawatomi girl, and her family prepare to celebrate the new year, which the Potawatomi and other Anishinaabe people observe at the beginning of spring with a camping and climbing trip. Dani is excited for the adventure, but also nervous. The rocks are so big. Will she make it to the top of her climb? As Dani explores the awakening woods and makes memories with her family, she learns to draw on the courage Creator gives while finding inspiration in the miraculous new life Mother Earth brings forth each spring.

Pick up your copy here...


Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, Kaitlin writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. She also speaks on these topics to diverse audiences who are interested in truth-telling and healing.

As an interspiritual advocate, Kaitlin participates in conversations on topics such as colonialism in faith communities, and she has spoken at many conferences on the importance of interfaith relationships.

Besides her books, Kaitlin has written online for Sojourners, Religion News Service, Apartment Therapy, On Being, SELF Magazine, Oprah Daily and more. Her work has been featured on CBS and in USA Today. She also writes at The Liminality Journal.

Kaitlin lives in Philadelphia with her family.

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Climbing in Heels by Elaine Goldsmith Thomas


 It's the story of friendship, betrayal, survival, standing up when they pass you by, and saying I won't go when they want you gone. And it's also a story about how some of those women became very much like the monsters who trained them.


Meet Beanie Rosen, the fast-talking and even faster-thinking Valley girl who knows where she wants to go, and doesn’t care if she doesn’t look the part.

Mercedes Baxter, who learned early on how to leverage the monied friends of her monied friends' parents until she found a foothold in Hollywood.

And Ella Gaddy, a sexy free-spirit anti-debutante from a white-glove Kentucky home who shakes up any room she walks into.

Read Climbing in Heels and watch these women meet, meld, fight, strategize and climb their way into your heart.

Pick up your copy here....


ELAINE GOLDSMITH THOMAS began her career at the William Morris Agency and rose by the late 1980’s to become the Senior Vice President of the WMA, and later the Senior Vice President of ICM, guiding the careers of, among others, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lopez, Nicholas Cage, and Madonna. More recently, she has produced a broad, successful slate of films and television series including Maid in Manhattan, Mona Lisa Smile, Hustlers, Marry Me, Emily in Paris, The Fosters and many others. She lives in New York City.

You don't want to miss this must read. I devoured it in one sitting.

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten

 

Scream meets The Guest List in this wickedly compelling and compulsively page-turning thriller of friendship and murder from the author of The Lost Village, Camilla Sten.

On a remote island nestled off the coast of Sweden, four friends―Tilly, Anna, Linnea and Evelina―meet every year. Best friends since childhood, the idea is to drink beer, dance by the water, and shake off the weight of life's expectations. The location of the island is a secret to everyone but them. One night of reckless fun and secret-sharing, and then they return to their normal lives.

Ten Years Later. Ever since she was a teenager, Tessa Nilsson has been consumed by the story of four friends who disappeared. As her true crime fervor turned into a wildly popular podcast, Tessa covered Sweden’s most gruesome cases, but could never find the answers behind what happened to these women who disappeared. Now Tessa’s podcast has crashed and burned, any chance she had at uncovering the truth vanishing with it.

Anneliese is Tessa’s best friend, and before she walks down the aisle, she wants to have a bachelorette party. The destination: Baltic Vinyasa, a sleek, sophisticated yoga retreat on a small island off the coast―one with such similar characteristics to the tragedy years ago that it raises the hair on Tessa’s neck. The idea is to drink gallons of cava, do sunrise yoga, and get in their last chance to bond with the bride. Tessa will not pass this up. It’s her last chance to find out what happened to the four women, once and for all.

And it’s someone else’s last chance to get revenge.

Pick up your copy here...


CAMILLA STEN has been writing stories since she was a young girl. In 2019, Camilla published the now internationally acclaimed, hair-raising novel, The Lost Village. Rights for The Lost Village have been sold to nineteen territories around the world including film and TV. Her third novel for adults, The Resting Place, was one of Goodreads Most Popular Horror Books of 2022 and the same year Camilla was longlisted for the prestigious Viktor Crime Award in Germany. An ever prolific author, Camilla has released the third part in her YA series and continues to write new thrillers. Find her on Instagram: @AuthorCamillaSten.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Strong and Secure by Michelle Nietert


 Deepen your understanding of God the Father with Strong and Secure, the 100-day devotional for teen girls and young women that explores topics like anxiety, self-esteem, and the pressures of everyday life and examines five key traits of God to guide you toward building an enduring relationship with Him.

The Bible tells us to think of God as a Father, but what exactly does that mean for teenagers and young adults who are forming their own identities? Strong and Secure considers the nature of the God who protects, heals, brings peace, provides, and is always present, and shows readers how they can experience Him fully and grow stronger as His child. Through personal anecdotes, Bible passages, and practical advice, Strong and Secure illustrates how God is with you in your anxiety, grief, disappointment, struggles, and even trauma, and that He longs for you to find strength and security in His love, even when others let you down.

Strong and Secure:

  • Meets young women where they are in life to affirm that they are loved by God and invites them to deepen their relationship with Him
  • Refers to specific Scriptures that speak to God’s traits and paint a portrait of who God is
  • Includes a section on how to use this book in everyday life, as well as a topical index to help readers find devotions relevant to their life situation
  • Is a great gift for birthdays and graduations, as well as moments of struggle

Pick up your copy here...


Licensed Professional Counselor of 25 years, Michelle Nietert is the best selling coauthor coauthor of the Managing Your Emojis, God I Feel Sad and releasing this fall - God, I Feel Scared: Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God series, Loved and Cherished, and the award-winning book for adults Make Up Your Mind.

She leads a team of counselors as the clinical director of Community Counseling Associates in the Dallas, TX area. A popular speaker on topics regarding mental health, faith, and parenting, she is a frequent guest on national television and podcasts, and hosts the Raising Mentally Healthy KidsTM podcast. She and her husband Drew have been married 20 years with two school aged children. Connect with Michelle at YourMentalHealthCoach.com and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/michellenietert or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michellenietert/

Monday, April 14, 2025

The Minor Rescue by Meredith Davis


 Noah Minor is back for another action-packed adventure--this time in the Big Apple--where he's hoping to stop Gravitas' most wanted (and Noah's great uncle) once and for all!


Noah might be zooming through Gravitas training, but his friends Rodney and Haley still haven’t recovered from their run-in with his great-uncle Saul three months ago. And Noah blames himself for letting Gravitas’s Most Wanted get away.

When twenty-six middle schoolers are kidnapped, Gravitas sends Noah to New York City to look for clues to Saul’s location. Noah hopes to make things right and prove he isn’t an epic failure.

But is Noah actually looking to bring Saul to justice, or is he just seeking revenge?

Pick up your copy here...


Meredith Davis is the author of HER OWN TWO FEET: A RWANDAN GIRL’S BRAVE FIGHT TO WALK (Scholastic), THE MINOR MIRACLE and THE MINOR RESCUE (Waterbrook/PRH). Once upon a time she worked at an independent children’s bookstore, started the Austin Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), traveled her way through thirty-five countries in nine and a half months, and earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is married with three children and one grandchild and lives with a home full of books in Austin, Texas.

Sunday, April 13, 2025

The Minor Miracle by Meredith Davis


 As a baby, Noah Minor miraculously—and mysteriously—survived a fall from a sixteen-story balcony. But ever since then, Noah’s life has been pretty boring.


As he enters seventh grade, Noah is hoping to be less ordinary and more extraordinary, like his best friends, trumpet prodigy Rodney and the practically perfect Haley. So Noah’s sure his star is on the rise when during a standard vision test, he learns he can manipulate gravity and is recruited to train with Gravitas, a top-secret government agency!

Noah thinks his life will now be awesome, but instead, he has a whole new set of problems. The biggest one: His great-uncle Saul is on Gravitas’s most-wanted list . . . but might also be the only person who can help Noah reach his full potential.

Pick up your copy here...


Meredith Davis is the author of HER OWN TWO FEET: A RWANDAN GIRL’S BRAVE FIGHT TO WALK (Scholastic), THE MINOR MIRACLE and THE MINOR RESCUE (Waterbrook/PRH). Once upon a time she worked at an independent children’s bookstore, started the Austin Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), traveled her way through thirty-five countries in nine and a half months, and earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is married with three children and one grandchild and lives with a home full of books in Austin, Texas.