About The Author

I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. While I was in elementary school, I loved to read adventure books from the library. I dreamed about visiting mysterious places like Africa and tropical rainforests. I thought that it would be exciting to learn about animals living in those places. I also loved to write stories, especially science fiction. I even wrote and printed a neighborhood newspaper.  When I wasn’t reading or writing, I loved to play sports – especially baseball.

I went to college at Ohio State. While I was there I played on the ice hockey team. After I graduated, I became an elementary school teacher in Pontiac, Michigan. Then I went back to Ohio State and earned my Master's and Doctorate degrees. After that, I became a college professor and taught people how to be good teachers. While I was teaching, I wrote a lot of articles for journals, and I even wrote a college textbook with three other people about how children learn.

When my son John, and my daughter Janean, were young, I decided that I wanted to write stories that they would enjoy reading. Since they are both grown up now, you can see how long I have been writing for children.

Because I love animals (I hope that you do!) I jumped at the chance to take a job at the Columbus Zoo in 1978. Part of my job consisted of writing articles for the zoo's newsletter ‑ "ZooViews." I decided that it would be neat to share what I had learned about wild animals with other people. That is when I began writing magazine articles.

When I had the chance to go to Africa, and then to the rainforests of Central America as well as the Amazon Rainforest, it was like a dream come true. There were so many wonderful animals and beautiful scenery to see and photograph! Those trips gave me some great stories to write about, so I wrote some more magazine articles.

In 1988, I had the good fortune to help start a conservation organization for wild cats called the International Society for Endangered Cats. For the next seven years, I was the Executive Director of that organization. I traveled all over the United States and Canada talking to people about protecting our endangered cats. I also wrote lots of articles for our newsletter, "Cat Tales."

Since January of 1995, I have been going into schools to talk about creative writing. I have also been on television and radio many times, including Good Morning America, and a radio broadcast that went all across Canada.

When I am not in schools, or on radio or television, I am at home in Delaware, Ohio writing my Returning Wildlife, or Seedling book series. The books in the Returning Wildlife series are North American River Otters, The North American Beaver, Bats, The Bald Eagle, Wild Turkeys, The North American Bison, Manatees, Florida Panthers, Grizzly Bears, Gray Wolves, American Alligators, Green Sea Turtles, California Condors, Gray Whales, and Northern Elephant Seals. My Seedling books are Cheetahs, Hawks, Kangaroos, Owls, Giraffes, Scarlet Macaws, Camels, and Snow Leopards. I have also written a fictional picture book for Gingham Dog Press entitled Mugambi’s Journey.

I teach young writers at the Thurber Writing Academy in Columbus, Ohio. I also teach writing through the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s Artist-In-Schools program, and I am a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

In my spare time, I like to play tennis, hike through the forests near my home, and read. I also like to ice skate in the winter. As you can tell, I like to keep busy, and I am sure that you do, too. I hope that this gives you an idea about my background, and the things that I like to write about. I also hope that I can visit your school and get to meet you someday!

In December of 2007, I was thrilled to be inducted into the Brunswick High School Hall of Fame in Brunswick, Ohio.  I was selected for this honor because of my work in the fields of education, literature, and wildlife Conservation.  When I was a student at Brunswick High School, I played varsity football and baseball for the Blue Devils, I had a prominent role in the Senior Class Play, I represented the high school at the Rotary Club of Medina County, I was a member of FTA (Future Teachers of America), I was president of the high school bowling club, and I was awarded the Charles Palmer Davis Medal for excellence in the field of current events.  I graduated from Brunswick High School in 1960.  Please check out this link: http://www.brunswickschoolsalumni.org/hall_of_fame.htm to read the nice comments about my background that appear on the Brunswick High School Hall of Fame website.