Bio/Media

I'm fascinated by bugs and poop and roadkill, but I wasn't always... As a child, I climbed trees and played sports but was petrified of spiders and did not like getting dirty. Now I let spiders crawl up my arm, paint my face with dirt and dig through scat (animal poop). Why am I now fascinated instead of freaked out? Knowledge.

The more you learn, the less you fear.

My Bio

My interest in nature led to a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Environmental Education. For years I developed curriculum and directed the McDowell Environmental Center. Later, I taught in the classroom, directed summer camps, and finally discovered writing! I've published 18 books for young people and owe much of my publishing knowledge to the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, particularly the Southern Breeze Region. My work is represented byhttps://rpcontent.com/agents.

My Life

One of my favorite things is to stand knee-deep in a stream and catch bugs with kids. I still do that, occasionally, when I'm not writing, speaking to students or leading teacher workshops. I live in beautiful Alabama with my husband, four cats and a forest full of wildlife. During my free time, I climb trees, collect fossils, stand under waterfalls, nature journal, explore the Sipsey Wilderness or lay in a hammock and read a good book!