Jane Eyre - I love the drama and the romance
The Rag Coat - the way the family and community pull together and the way the children learn to appreciate the coat
The Girl by Catherine Cookson - Cookson writes so clearly about this time in history in England
Tommie De Paola's fairy tales - one of my favorites to read to my students
The Little Prince - it reminds me of my son Gabriel

I read fiction for pleasure

Nook

Sharing the book with my friends on social media sites I'm signed into.

My desk is actually a leather ottoman that sits in front of a matching chair

I grew up in McKinney, Texas. I was influenced by the small towns and safety of living in a safe environment where I was free to be a child.

I began writing when I was five years old. My grandfather provided us with all kinds of office paper that I was able to make into tiny books. I would write and illustrate them myself and often gave them as gifts.

My husband and I are both teachers. One day I picked him up from work at an elementary school and noticed the strange holes in the ground of the schoolyard. As a scientist I wondered what kind of animal or insect would create those kinds of holes. It wasn't until later, as I walked across a playground in heels that I noticed I was creating the same kinds of holes in the ground.

The desire to see something I created in print and available for someone to read.

Smashwords has given me the confidence and the tools to be able to print a book on my own.

I love to play with words and place them in all kinds of order in order to tell a story. I also like to study human nature and be able to covey the strengths and weaknesses of people through stories.

I am working with Anaiah Press on a book entitled Gianna the Great that will be coming out in the spring of 2015.

When I began looking for a place to publish and I found Anaiah Press, I read up on them first and saw their "mission statement". Anaiah Press is a Christian digital-first publishing house dedicated to presenting quality faith-based fiction and nonfiction books to the public. So I knew their values would be closely aligned with my own and I would feel comfortable working with them.

Then, when I began working with Jessica Schmeidler, I found out that their statement . . .to provide our authors with the close-knit, hands-on experience was indeed true. Jessica has helped me every step of the way with encouragement and personal technical help. I could not have asked for a better way to be introduced into the world of publication and I can foresee a long relationship with Anaiah Press.

The character Sarah Jane is just as rambunctious a child as I was. She loves playing with tarantulas and horned toads just as I did and can find something wonderful everywhere, even in the schoolyard where she feels unwelcomed.