Thirteen years in public school teaching: high school, middle school, and elementary school, in Clarke and Oconee Counties, GA. Subjects taught: Gifted classes, English, Reading, Creative Writing, Drama, Social Studies.
Selected Publications:
Author, Skeleton in the Art Closet (Texas: Black Rose Writing, 2023) A cozy-style mystery featuring a group of women painters at a small town art center. Book two of the Watercolor Mysteries series.
Author, A Brush with Murder (Texas: Black Rose Writing, 2022) A cozy-style mystery featuring a group of women painters at an art retreat. Book one of the Watercolor Mysteries series.
Author, "The Tale of the Children's Arthur" (Chapter 16) in Book Mark; How to Be an Author by Chip R. Bell (Georgia: Georgia Writer's Museum, 2018, 2019) A collection of essays about writing.
"As Told To" Author, The Wedding Heard 'Round the World; America's First Gay Marriage (Minnesota: The University of Minnesota Press, 2016) (World paperback edition - Great Britain: Sphere, 2021) A memoir about the struggle of Jack Baker and Michael McConnell to legally marry.
Author, When Hurricane Katrina Hit Home (South Carolina: The History Press, 2013) A novel about the worst hurricane in U.S. history.
Author, Testing Ground (Amazon: Kindle e-book, 2013) A novel about a friendship between two 6th grade girls that crosses racial lines during the Civil Rights Era.
Author, Search and Rescue Dogs (Minnesota: Capstone Press, 2013) Part of a nonfiction series about dogs with jobs.
Author, Terriers; Loyal Hunting Companions (Minnesota: Capstone Press, 2013) Part of a nonfiction series about hunting dogs.
Author, Thank You, Trees! (Minnesota: Kar-Ben, 2013) with Marilyn Gootman A rhyming board book that celebrates the Jewish version of Earth Day.
Author, River Beds; Sleeping in the World’s Rivers (South Carolina: Arbordale Publishing, 2008) A picture book written as a gentle bedtime story but based on scientific info. (sequel to Water Beds, below)
Author, Julie the Rockhound (South Carolina: Arbordale Publishing, 2007) A picture book that introduces young listeners to crystals - Earth’s natural treasures.
Author, Tsunami: The True Story of an April Fool’s Day Disaster (Ohio: Darby Creek Publishers, 2006) A nonfiction narrative about the 1946 tsunami that hit a school and town in Hawaii.
Author, Water Beds; Sleeping in the Ocean (South Carolina: Arbordale Publishing, 2005) A picture book written as a gentle bedtime story but based on scientific info.
Author, Miracle: The True Story of the Wreck of the Sea Venture (Ohio: Darby Creek Publishers, 2004) A nonfiction narrative about the shipwreck that inspired Shakespeare to write The Tempest.
Author, Quake! Disaster in San Francisco, 1906 (Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 2004) A novel about a boy searching for his lost family during the Great Earthquake and Fire.
Author, Surviving Jamestown: The Adventures of Young Sam Collier (Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 2001) A fictionalized history of the early years of the colony.
Author, Seaman, the Dog Who Explored the West with Lewis and Clark (Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 1999) A fictionalized biography of the dog who accompanied the explorers.
Author, The Tree that Owns Itself; and Other Adventure Tales from Georgia's Past (Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 1996) with Loretta Hammer. A collection of a dozen tales of historical fiction.
Editor, An Introduction to Law in Georgia (Athens: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 1985). A high school textbook for law-related education.
Editor, Teaching Georgia Government (Athens: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 1977-81). A quarterly newsletter for social studies educators.
Editor, City Government in Georgia (Athens: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 1980). A middle-grades textbook.
Writing Awards:
2013, Moonbeam Gold Award (Hurricane Katrina) 2013, Sydney Taylor Award, Assoc of Jewish Libraries Notable Books for Older Readers (Hurricane Katrina) 2013, Board Book Roundup selection in the New York Times (Thank You, Trees!) 2010, Georgia Center for the Book: “25 Books all young Georgians should read,” (The Tree) 2009, Georgia Picture Book Author of the Year, Georgia Writers Association (River Beds) 2009, Gold Recipient - Animal Kingdom, a Mom’s Choice Award, Just for Moms Foundation (River Beds) 2007-8, Finalist, New Mexico Land of Enchantment Book Award (Quake!) 2007, Winner, Colonial Williamsburg & Williamsburg Library Beacon of Freedom Award (Miracle) 2007 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People (Tsunami) 2007, Learning Magazine Teachers Choice Award (Water Beds) 2006-7, Finalist, Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award (Quake!) 2006-7, Finalist, Massachusetts Children’s Book Award (Quake!) 2006-7, Finalist, Nevada Young Readers Award (Quake!) 2006-7, Finalist, Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award (Quake!) 2006-7, Finalist, Rhode Island Children’s Book Award (Quake!) 2006, Finalist, Southern Independent Bookseller’s Alliance Award (Water Beds) 2005, Finalist, Foreword Magazine, Book of the Year (Water Beds) 2005, Featured title, National Book Festival Pavilion of States (Miracle) 2005, Most Outstanding Author of the Year, a Mom’s Choice Award, Just for Moms Foundation (Water Beds) 2005, Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Quake!) 2004-5, Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Young Adult Top Forty (Quake!) 2004, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Best Books for Young Readers (Miracle) 2004, Georgia Children’s/Young Adult Author of the Year, Georgia Writers Assoc. (Miracle) 2004, Junior Library Guild Selection (Miracle) 2004, Sydney Taylor Award, Assoc of Jewish Libraries Notable Books for Older Readers (Quake!) 2004, Maxwell Medal for Best Children’s Book, Dog Writers Assoc of America (Quake!) 2004, Brodart “Gem” (Quake!) 2001-2, Finalist, South Dakota Prairie Pasque Book Award (Seaman) 2001-2, Finalist, Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award (Seaman) 2001, Work-in-Progress Grant runner-up, Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (Miracle) 2001, Bank Street College Best Children's Books of the Year (Jamestown) 2000-1, Finalist, Georgia Children's Book Award (Seaman) 1999, Pick of the List, American Bookseller's Assoc. (Seaman) 1997, "Most Tellable Tale" Storytelling World Award ("Mammy Kate" in The Tree) 1996, Georgia Children's Author of the Year, Georgia Writers Assoc. (The Tree) 1994, Individual Artist Grant, Georgia Council for the Arts ("King of the Swamp" in The Tree) ·