A is for Author - I'm a published children's author. My debut picture book, BENNY'S TRUE COLORS, released on November 17, 2020. Book #2, WHAT'S SILLY HAIR DAY WITH NO HAIR? released from Albert Whitman on March 23, 2021, and NILA'S PERFECT COAT released February 7, 2023 from Beaming Books. B is for BookEnds, Jr. - the children's division of my literary agency, BookEnds Lit. C is for Critique group - Mine are the best. Thanks Jill Esbaum, Lisa Morlock, Pat Zietlow Miller, and my Des Moines group...Liz Bedia, Becky Janni, Jenny Moyer, and Tina Cho . D is for Dogs - I'm a dog-lover. I've had pet dogs since the day my sister and I decided to boycott my dad until he let us get a mixed-lab puppy we named Lady (after a favorite Golden Book, Lady and the Tramp). E is for English - I have a BA degree in English. F is for Fireplace - My favorite wintertime activity is sitting by the wood-burning fireplace with a glass of wine and a good book. G is for Garden - We used to have a big vegetable garden but gave it up several years ago. I miss the home-grown vegetables but not the work. H is for Houses - Since graduating from college, I've lived in six different houses. Hope to never move again. I is for Iowa - I moved to Iowa for love. Met my husband on a blind date in Des Moines and less than a year later I found myself living in Iowa. J is for Jewelry - I have a floor cabinet full of jewelry but only wear about ten favorite pieces. K is for Krumkaka - A rolled, crispy Norwegian wafer cookie my mom made every Christmas. My favorite. L is for Little House on the Prairie - Loved this series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The Long Winter was my favorite. M is for Macmillan Publishing - The first publisher/Imprint to take a chance on me. Thanks, Erin! N is for Nancy Drew - My favorite preteen reading series. Don't have a favorite...loved them all. O is for Opal - I received my first opal ring as a high school graduation gift from my parents. P is for Pokey Little Puppy - My favorite childhood picture book. Q is for Quotes - One of my favorites --"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think," Christopher Robin to Winnie-the-Pooh, A. A. Milne R is for Revision - My favorite part of the writing process, S is for Sioux Falls, SD - My hometown. T is for Teacher - My favorite teacher, Mrs. McGowan, fueled my love of words and my desire to become a teacher. U is for Upwards - My favorite word game. V is for Veronica - As a tween, I loved reading Archie and Veronica comic books. W is for Wild Rice - One of my favorite side dishes when paired with a medium rare steak and a glass of red wine. X is for Xerox - Can't count the number of hours spent waiting for the Xerox copier to spit out the student copies I needed for my next class period. Y is for Yoga - I have a yoga mat....now if only I used it. Z is for Zodiac - I'm a Taurus. One word that characterizes a Taurus is persistent. Guess that's why I keep writing.