Stories have always been my favorite kind of magic. I'm a graduate of the University of Michigan, a mother of three boys, and enthusiast of myths, legends, and folklore. Fairy tales are the roots of fiction writing and their centuries-old magic continues to enchant and inspire today. As a Family Birthing Center Nurse, I witness and write the stories of illness, pain, resilience, and the fragile beginnings of new life. In my children's books, I weave magical adventures, persevering characters, and the chance for a happy ending. As a mom, I read endlessly to my children every night. Many times I held the illustrations to myself, letting my boys build the story in their own imaginations before turning the page. Every time the elementary school teachers remarked, "Your son's language and comprehension levels are unusually advanced for his age." I always smiled and blamed it on the books.