Jeanne Birdsall

From the author: I grew up in the suburbs west of Philadelphia, where I attended wonderful public schools. I had lots of great teachers, but my favorites were: Mrs. Corkhill, sixth grade, who encouraged my intellectual curiosity; Mr. Tremonte, eighth grade algebra, who taught me to love and respect math (Skye would have adored him!); and Miss Basehore, second and fourth year Latin, to whom I (and Mr. Penderwick) will be forever grateful. Although I first decided to become a writer when I was ten years old, it took me until I was forty-one to get started. In the years in between, I had many strange jobs to support myself, and also worked hard as a photographer, the kind that makes art. Some of my photographs are included in the permanent collections of museums, including the Smithsonian and the Philadelphia Art Museum. My work can be seen in several galleries, including the R. Michelson Galleries in Northampton, Massachusetts. My home now is with my husband in western Massachusetts. Our house is old and comfortable, full of unruly animals, and surrounded by gardens.