Statistics

birthday: April 14th

grew up in: Branchport, New York

k-12 school: Prattsburgh Central School

college: B.A. in English Education - Keuka College (N.Y.)  M.A. in Education - The University of Connecticut at Storrs

career: middle school Language Arts teacher         freelance writer

honors and awards: District Teacher of the Year 1991   Distinguished Service to Youth Award from FOGY      Keuka College Student Teacher of the Year 1983

publishing credits: Behind the Bedroom Wall, the Musical (www.btbwthemusical.com) co-written with Laura E. Williams and Joan Burr;Country magazine; Country Extra magazine; Chronicle Express newspaper in Penn Yan, NY; Community Action News, South Windsor, CT; CMEA Journal (Connecticut Music Educators Association Journal)

professional affiliations: SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators); IWWG (International Women's Writers Guild); RWA (Romance Writers of America); Charter Oak Romance Writers; NEA (National Education Association);CEA (CT Education Association)

Currently reside in: Connecticut

immediate family: a husband - Jim

daughter - Carrie Beth, son - Nick,

dog - Shelby, cat - Freckles

extended family: parents, three brothers, one sister, oodles of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, a grandmother, in-laws, wonderful friends

interests: writing, reading, animals, gardening, sports, horseback riding, theater, walking, helping others,basketball coaching, and so much more! I'm never bored.

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     I'd like to give a "shout out" to my phenomenal students whose enthusiasm for FINDING ATTICUS helped me get it written and revised. I was fortunate to get to spend a year with all of them ('08-'09).

Period 1 & 2a - Eidan, Molly B., Angela, Roopa, Kelly, Andrew, Tara, Noah, Asher, Carolina, Meghan, Laurine, Emily, Zach, Nick M., Eric, Sammy, Jake, Isabelle, Luke, Molly T., Kyle, Augusta, RaQuan, and Nick Z-D

Period 2b & 5 - Joy, Julia A., Christopher, Julia B., Liam, Corinne, Madi, Renny, Andy, Graham, Noah, Chase, Alicia, Shannon, Paige, Catherine, Haley, Meghan, Vincent, Jack, Steph and John

Period 4b & 6 - Sammi, Carley, Steph, Robert, Ben, Rachel, Sam, Zach H., Jillian, Abby, Colin, Donevin, Marissa, Grace, Archeta, Katie, Ashley, Cameron, Coleman, Brandon, Jhaaron, Billy, Kyle, Zach Z.

and also to Caitlyn for being my special homeroom member.

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I also have to thank a good friend and former colleague, Holly, for being my "first reader" and helping me keep the facts straight, particularly in relation to the dog show details.  If it weren't for her, it would have taken me longer to get this book written. 

Also, a huge thanks to my big brother, Rodney, a county sheriff detective, who made sure the "police matters" were handled accurately.

Thanks to my wonderful friends and collaborators on Behind the Bedroom Wall - the Musical, Laura and Joan, for encouraging me and listening to the story ideas in their early stages.  Thanks, Laura for telling me I HAD to write a middle grades novel, and thanks, Joan, for helping me work through the "plot holes". Also, thanks to Zita for believing in us and our musical.

Thanks to my parents, grandmother, siblings and their families (Jeff, Valerie, Mark and Rod), mother-in-law, extended family, friends, colleagues and former colleagues who have always encouraged me with my writing.