All book reviews rated my trilogy 5 stars and all three novels were among 5-10 Finalists in national and intenational contests. I have received many phone calls asking me to continue this series, people wanting to know what happens to my characters. I must admit, I did leave it open-ended and a need for continuation. Well, the sequel Paper Flowers was written and expect to publish during 2012.

A 19th century photo of an abused child laborer, a girl about nine-years-old, inspired me to write my first book, Wildflowers. Half way through the novel I saw where I could connect it to a second book. I decided, "Why two? Make it a trilogy." And so it was done. I changed the theme from abused child laborers to children who rode the orphan trains to an uncertain future. Some found loving homes; others experienced physical and mental abuse. Over 200,000 children left New York City to be adopted in the West and Southwest between 1854 and 1929.

I am a member of the National Orphan Train Complex, an organization dedicated to keeping alive this little-known corner of United States History. No one in my family was a rider. I joined because of my interest in the subject.