About the Author

What did you read growing up? 

I really loved the stories found in books like the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. I treasured picture books by Jan Brett, such as Mossy, I was fascinated by the attention to setting and detail in her illustrations. Characters from Frog & Toad Are Friends, Wind in the Willows, and Winnie-the-Pooh have long been valued friends. My reading was greatly enriched by my English and Creative Writing studies in college and I discovered authors like Ray Bradbury and Louise Erdrich. I’d spend free time in the campus library reading collections of legends and folktales from cultures all around the world. 

When did you start writing? 

I began writing short stories in elementary school. I journaled a lot, and in high school journaling turned into poetry. I found poetry a helpful way to process all the complicated emotions of being a teenager. If a poem struck, I could not go back asleep until I wrote it. In college, I got my degree in English and concentrated my studies in poetry. After college, I found myself craving more light heartedness and fun then what I was finding in poetry; I took a class taught by Peggy Anderson called The Magic of Writing for Children and I loved it!  

When did your turtle obsession start?  

I started collecting turtle figurines around the age of 5, I was drawn to the often somber and wise expressions on their faces. I even got to exhibit my turtle collection in our elementary school’s office. As I began reading, some of my favorite picture books were about turtles, and I grew to love them even more when I read the different stories that were told about them in indigenous cultures. 

When I was a kid I wanted a turtle as a pet, but my parents made me wait till I had my own home. I’m sure glad they made me wait! Turtles are a lot of work to take care of and they need quite a bit of space to grow. We were fortunate to be able to adopt our turtle from family who was moving and could not bring him with them. If you want to learn more about these amazing creatures, visit Turtle Facts!

What is your favorite scene in the book?  

I had fun writing a lot of the scenes and including things that made me laugh, like writing the dialogue for the skunk and the bullfrog. But I think my personal favorite scene is when Frederique first sees Ruthie in the storm. Ruthie was not originally a planned character, but as I wrote she appeared in this scene, it felt real and powerful, and she became a very vital character to the story. 

What do you do for fun? 

Afternoon kitchen dance parties, swing and salsa dancing. Gardening. Reading, in a wide range of genres. Learning new skills. Traveling. Hiking or any way of being in nature. Tennis. Making jewelry. Making up stories. Being with my family and friends.