"My first memory of writing was when I was in first grade. I wrote an awesome retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk using my friends and myself as the characters. I don’t think my best friend was very happy when I cast her as the giant. The person who was happy, however, was my first grade teacher, Miss Course. She was so impressed that she sent me over to the second grade teacher’s classroom to show her what I had created. I remember knocking on the door of the second grade classroom and being very nervous that all those “big kids” would be looking at me when it opened. The second grade teacher, Mrs. Bryant, made a really big deal about my story! I think I decided then and there that I wanted to be a writer. Thank you, Miss Course and Mrs. Bryant!
"Fast forward A LOT of years… I always liked school, so when it came time to decide on a career, I chose to be a teacher. I went to the Ohio State University to study special education. After teaching for several years, I went back to school for a master’s degree in early childhood education. After having three children, I went back to school again for another master’s degree in speech pathology. I finished that one in 2009. See? I told you I always liked school.
"While I was at Ohio State, I met the farmer of my dreams. I always did want to live on a farm when I was a kid. I think that’s because most of my aunts, uncles, and cousins were farm folks and some of my favorite memories are from days spent in their barns, pastures, and haymows. When you fall in love with a farmer, you move to a farm, because he sure isn’t going to move to the city! So here I am.
"Here on the farm, we are raising three kids, calves, hogs, cats by the dozens, one adorable golden retriever and a goat who believes he’s a golden retriever. But that’s another story…"