Thanks for a strong background in phonics in a one-room country school, I early learned to read and loved it. Being born during the Great Depression and living wtth the shortages of WWII, reading became a great interest to entertain myself. Borrowing books from the town library or from the one-room country school was an affordable way to find pleasure without much expense.      Living without electricity, I read by a kerosene lamp. Sometimes, I poked a rug under my bedroom door so that my mother would not know I was reading late into the night to finish a good story. One morning, she found my light still burning and reprimanded me for doings such a dangerous thing. Mother scolded that im my sleep I could have pulled the dresser scarf off the dresser and tipped the lamp starting a fire.    While I was in high school, I had to stay in town with an elderly lady because there were no school buses back then. The lady kept low watt bulbs in the lights and at night I would put higher wattage bulbs in so I could read and the next day she would remove them.      Throughout my college days, I was so busy but always found time to read. Self-help books helped me learn to organize and stay on focus. Then came the years of being a teacher which gave me little time for myself but my reading for information and pleasure was something I could not completely negllect.      The years of having a young family were a busy time in my life but such a memorable one. When I could I attended night classes to further my education. I took a class in writing and struggled with descriptions to bring vivid scenes to the reader's mind. But loving to read, I also wanted to be a writer, a life-long dream.      As an adult, I wrote non-fiction writings: letters-to-the-editor, newspaper guest editorials, small pamphlets, brochures, and several books. Forever Faithful  is my first attempt at writing fiction. Love all my children, grandchildren and great-granchildren. They are busy with their own lives and again, I find time to read. Reading and writing bring pleasure, enrich my life and make me a better, happier person.

BSE Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa
MSE Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa Professional Teaching Certificate K-9