A BIT OF BACKGROUND

My earliest memories are of my mother taking me to the Minneapolis Public Library. I cannot remember not reading.

I've been a writer since I could hold a pencil, and published my first story in a national magazine when I was in ninth grade. 

I became a librarian because I figured out back in junior high that I liked helping people find books and information they would enjoy. I still do.

After a time, it became logical to move into publishing, where bringing books and people together has a broader scope. 

Resumes tend to be redundant, but here's a summary.

• Librarian in government, corporate, and medical libraries
• Children's librarian and department head
• Editor, children's magazines, children's books
• Independent Librarian: Research, programming, teaching, organizational services
• Writer/Editor: Writing, reviewing, critiquing, consulting, public speaking, and editorial services

My professional experience has taught me more than what I learned in classrooms. If you’re looking for degrees, though, here they are:

BA, Liberal Arts, Michigan State University
MA, Library and Information Science, University of Missouri–Columbia
PhD, American Literature, Northern Illinois University