It's important to be grateful for the gifts we have

If truth were a crayon and it was up to me to put a wrapper on it and name it's color, I know just what I would call it-dinosaur skin.

Family is the most important thing in my life, so I guess it's not surprise that I like to write about it.

To me, nothing tastes more like summer than peach pie. I began collecting pie recipes from friends and family while I was still working on my first draft. As the recipes poured in, it was fun to try to match the pies to the characters in the book.

As a kid I was goofy and creative and sensitive. I like to think I'm all of those now too - just with wrinkles.

I studied piano and viola and voice in high school and music composition in college. For many years before I became an author I was a singer songwriter, writing for Disney and Sesame Street. I believe in perfect rhymes - no cheating!

It's important to be grateful for the gifts we have