Born and raised in the Ohio River Valley of Northeastern Kentucky, I have grown accustomed to rural life and strong community ties. Childhood memories of blackberry picking to make canned jam, working in the pristine fields during planting and harvesting seasons, and nurturing close family bonds have all been inspirations for my artworks. Since I was a little girl, I have been consumed by the drive to create – with a burning determination to always “make something.” After graduating as valedictorian of my high school class, I attended Morehead State University to obtain my Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and art, and I earned my Master of Arts in art education through the University of Cincinnati. Presently, I am a tenured visual arts educator at Central Elementary in my hometown of Vanceburg, Kentucky. Teaching children to draw, paint, and create other types of art has helped me to refine and improve my own artistic skills, while sharing techniques with younger artists. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling and have had the opportunity to visit many places throughout the world, including China, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, Bermuda, Antigua, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Kiribati, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. These travels have had a profound impact on my art, teaching, and writing. I find other people’s way of life, customs, and traditions fascinating. Thank you for taking the time to read my book. I hope that you found something of interest or humor. Most definitely, I believe that all people should learn to laugh at themselves, and I hope that you connected well enough with my stories to find a little bit of yourself. Life can be truly funny!