The Authors

I loved the school setting, and I loved reading. I was shy, with little self-confidence at all. The people in books became as real to me as people I could reach out and touch. I believe my best friends lived in books—and those special books are still in my bookcase to be enjoyed every year. My best lessons in living came from seeing how fictional characters solved their problems. They became my role models.

I loved Louisa May Alcott who wrote Little Women; Doris Gates, who wrote Blue Willow and Sensible Kate; Frances Hodgson Burnett, who wrote The Secret Garden; and Madeleine L’Engle, who wrote A Wrinkle in Time. I was an adult before I discovered C.S. Lewis’s The Chonicles of Narnia, which also became favorites.

Anything at all that’s chocolate!

Orange! Orange shirts, orange flowers, orange popsicles!

At the age of ten I wrote a sequel to Little Women called The Four Sisters because I didn’t want the book to end. But I didn’t dream of becoming a writer until I was nearly thirty. I really only wanted to grow up, get married, and have lots of children. In case no one married me, I decided to get an elementary teaching degree so I could be surrounded by children at school. I did get the teaching degree, but I only taught a short time before my first daughter, Jenny, was born, and then I stayed home. When my second daughter, Laurie, was born, I took a writing class through the mail and discovered I absolutely loved writing for children and early teens. I sold my first novel, Just Like a Real Family, right after my third daughter, Jacqui, was born. I have about thirty books published now, with five or six coming out in the next couple of years.

In earlier years, I got many of my ideas from watching my girls deal with school and friendship problems. For mysteries, ideas came to me from visiting places in Iowa. The Haunting of Cabin l3 is set in Backbone State Park, Danger at Hanging Rock is set at Effigy Mounds National Monument, and the Carousel Mystery Series is set in Story City—all Iowa settings. Now that I live in Texas, I’m guessing my mysteries will start to include Texas settings.

This isn’t really a “hobby,” but my favorite thing is spending time talking and laughing with my husband, grown children, and grandchildren. Nothing beats that! In my spare time, I love to read, run, hike, canoe, visit museums and historical sites, plus read about the Civil War and England.

In the past, I have taught many Sunday school classes and Bible studies, have led women’s groups, and have been a church librarian. Right now, my ministry is two part. I consider my devotional writing for girls as a ministry. I also teach Sunday school classes at Lackland Air Force Base to young men and women in boot camp. It’s very satisfying to minister to the brave military people who defend our country.

If I do, it’s usually because I brought it on myself! I tend to make deadlines too close together, or agree to too many projects. That kind of pressure can freeze up my brain. The best cure for writer’s block I’ve found is to walk away from the computer, take a stroll, go for a run, play with the grandkids—in general, lighten up and loosen up. Then the ideas start to flow again.

• The Little House on the Prairie series, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• The Anne of Green Gables series, by L.M. Montgomery
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• All the Nancy Drew mysteries, by Caroline Keene
• Any of the Janette Oke books

With all of these books, I have read them so many times that they feel like friends. I usually only buy the books that I know I will read again and again.

I love mysteries. I have especially enjoyed Elizabeth Peters, Dick Francis, and Agatha Christie. If I can find a new series with an author I enjoy, I'm on cloud nine! I also enjoy classics, like Jane Eyre or anything by Jane Austen.

When I was in elementary school, I did. I loved seeing my mom write and publish books, so I tried several times. I started many—finished none. As I got older, I thought about being an archaeologist, but when I started college, I realized being a preschool teacher or special education teacher was what I wanted to be.

My newest hobby is gardening, since we own a home now. I also love reading, making my own cards, dreaming about traveling the world (especially Egypt and Italy), and spending time with my family.

Yes, my husband, Jeff, and I have two children—Abby
and Caleb.

Yes, my husband and I lead a small group for married couples who have children. In the past, I have been in the choir, which I hope to join again soon. I also want to start a group for older ladies and younger ladies, to bridge the gap between generations, make new friends, and learn skills and wisdom from each other.

Esther has been one of my favorites for a long time. Beauty. Royalty. Intrigue. Bravery. Victory. What a story!

Several other Bible girls also capture my attention and tug on my heart. I wanted to share the timeless truths offered in their stories with today’s girls of all ages.

Picnic, Hula-Hoop, read to kids, hike, play tennis (on Wii), sink my toes into wet sand at the Pacific Ocean, play table games, explore new places, gaze at sunsets, share lunch with a friend, and climb rock walls.

In 1987, I began writing articles, poems, and short stories for publication. I have had several hundred printed in more than 50 different publications. My publishing credits now include 28 children’s books and contributions to 11 books for adults.

I married my husband Bob in 1972 (that's more than 35 years ago!) we have two grown daughters, a son-in-law, three grandsons and a granddaughter.