Childhood

I grew up in Vermont. For much of my childhood I lived across the road from a dairy farm. I spent hours upon hours playing in the fields, “helping” in the barns, and hanging out in a big farm kitchen with our Swedish neighbors. During those years I never thought of being an author. Of course like every other student in the world I had to be a writer in school. But I never imagined writing as a career. I wasn’t planning on being a farmer either. I loved my tap dancing classes and wanted to be a Rockette tap dancing in Radio City Music Hall.

Later

Fast-forward through many years that included a move to New York City and years of teaching and you’ll find me writing my first novel. I was surprised to discover that I liked making up stories and writing them down. I liked it so much that I became a full time writer. Besides novels for children and young adults, I’ve told stories through scripts for television and the movies.

City Life

Here are a few details about my personal life. I live on the top floor of a sixteen-story building near the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. My Upper Westside neighborhood is between Central Park and the Hudson River. From my apartment I have a view of Manhattan that includes the Empire State Building. My view used to include the Twin Towers. I have a grown daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters who live in New York City.

Country Life

In the summers I live and work in a small red house on the North Shore of Long Island. My daughter and her family like to visit. We ride bikes, go for long walks on the beach, and swim in the ocean. Sometimes I set up my easel and paint the view of rocks, sea, and sky.

Pets

Over the years I had two wonderful dogs and several cats, but not all at once. My last pet was Willy – a Wheaton Terrier – who lived to be sixteen years old, which is pretty old in dog years. I based Pam Crandal’s dog in Pony Pals, on Willie.

Favorite Things

Besides writing I spend my time drawing, painting, reading, and gardening. I love to swim, bike, and tap dance. My favorite color would be many shades of blue. It is the color of the sky and sea. It is also the color of blood when it is in our veins. For me, blue is the color of life.