I love the classics, from Jane Austen to Hemmingway to Eudora Welty (my very favorite). Each these authors brings their characters and eras to life, helping me to gain greater insight into life and as well as a deeper understanding and respect for others.

I use a Nook (I'm on my second one. I already wore the first one out)

You know, I always read for pleasure -- simply because I love to read. And my goal, of course, is to pass on that pleasure to others. Reading should not be a struggle. Learning to read early is key to developing a pleasurable reading experience, whatever the book, or even an assignment.

My desk is surrounded by windows letting in a lot of light from the clear blue sky (when it isn't raining) and the beautiful water off of Hood Canal (Puget Sound). I'm so lucky, but my desk is still messy.

I grew up in Richland, Washington -- a unique place and experience since it is the site of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The city was closed at the time, meaning it was a government town where everyone who lived there had to work (mostly, our dad's) for the government and have a security clearance. The government built the houses and used only about 7 different plans. So we were all the same, no poverty, no crime, no unemployment. We had lots of open space and fresh air to enjoy and our schools were excellent. I'm sure we were all safe, well-fed and happy.

I started writing when I grew tired of taking teacher-education courses. Instead I took a great writing course from a man who had published many books, Don James, at the Cannon Beach Workshop in Cannon Beach, Oregon. From then on I just kept writing -- and teaching writing to a good many students, young and old. I can't imagine not writing. I just love to do it, publishing or not.

When I first started working with parents who were home schooling, I began to realize that most parents really don't know where to start when they begin to take on the task of teaching their children to read. Basically we simply forget how we, ourselves, learned to read. This quandary multiplied when I was asked to develop a reading program for the Partner's in Education tutoring program at the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. With 500 tutors responsible for helping their little partners learn to read, the task was daunting. The students were all wonderful, but sadly underprivileged. As I worked with each tutor/student pair, I soon realized the extent of the problem -- limited exposure to oral language, and no one available to read to them. Books, reading was not part of the lives of these children. I soon realized that there really wasn't a good source available to help tutors, or parents, to teach a child to read, unless they wanted to read textbooks, or books of prescribed exercises or drills. And it should all be so natural.... So, Raising a Reader, Naturally is now available in ebooks. Print copy is still to come.

I wanted my book to be small (limited pages), conversational, and affordable. Most publishers want big, conventional writing, and expensive. So, I am both happy and proud to be an indie author.

I am now working on a print edition of Raising a Reader, Naturally.

I live on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. Just like most people here, I hike the Olympic National Forest, kayak the gorgeous waters of Puget Sound and hit the Washington and Oregon beaches whenever I can.

Mostly, I have fun doing it.