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.

I’ve almost always lived in the foothills of North Carolina. In addition to writing, I’ve also taught in elementary schools. Teachers are lucky. 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 lives.

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