Because I’m a writer I’ve…

exchanged letters with an astronaut who’s orbited the Moon;

visited an art patron in her mansion on the famously crooked Lombard Street in San Francisco;

combed through boxes of documents at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC that were taken out of storage just for me; and

reported to class in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy.

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I’ve almost always lived in the foothills of North Carolina. My home is steps away from a university library and a botanical garden, and a short walk from an art museum. I was lucky to be a teacher. With a smile or a hug, a student can brighten a teacher’s cloudiest day.

My fourth-grade teacher gave me the wonderful gift of putting in my hands books she knew I would love. I hope someone has done that for you.

I write books about the latest technology and I use 21st century tools to research fascinating facts.

Do you see my scooter in the background of this photo? Riding it around my hilly neighborhood was lots of fun.