I grew up in Illinois and have been writing since first grade, the only student who didn't groan when the teacher assigned composition. I was honored in second grade for spelling "dessert" correctl...view moreI grew up in Illinois and have been writing since first grade, the only student who didn't groan when the teacher assigned composition. I was honored in second grade for spelling "dessert" correctly (instead of "desert"). In high school, I wrote for my school newspaper and was on the staff of the creative writing magazine. I served as typist and editor on the creative writing magazine for two years in college and took the creative writing class twice, winning the creative writing contest once for my poetry and once for a short story. When my children were in school, I began to work at home by becoming a copy editor for doctoral students' dissertations. I have been devoted to books and writing, words and language, all my life, but this is my own first publication. Over the last 20 years, my writing has been focused on my work as preacher/minister for small local Illinois churches in the United Church of Christ. I still live in Illinois, with my husband Jon. My four children are grown, but have provided me with a lot of material to turn into books!view less