First, I must give credit to my mother for reading to me and my siblings. She took us to the library often, and I felt it was a wonderland. We toured art museums, inspiring me to mimic Van Gogh’s stars and O’Keefe’s sunsets with finger paints. She sent our original poems to the kids’ page of the local newspaper so we could feel the thrill of being published at an early age. Also, I’ll never forget a certain third grade teacher that allowed her students to compose, illustrate, and bind (with a sewing machine and a book of wallpaper samples) our very own books! From age nine, I longed to author children’s books and that dream has never died.I’m grateful for the kids in my life. I wrote poems for, painted with, and read to my own three children. They continue to encourage me in creating art. As a career, I teach poetry and creative writing to middle school students who inspire me to write and dream alongside them. And there will be grandchildren to read to in the future. These books are my legacy to them.I’ve lived in Colorado most of my adult life and I enjoy learning about its birds, trees, wildflowers, varied landscapes, and rich history. I’m thankful to my dad for instilling in me a deep appreciation for the outdoors; several paintings in "Autumn's Artist: Backyard Birds for Beginners" are inspired by his memory. I deeply appreciate the lunar cycles, sunsets, the night sky, gardening, and summer hobbies. If you are just getting started with my books, be sure to collect all four books in the “seasons set” for the 2-12 year olds in your family. For older kids there is the poetry collection and a fantasy novella.Thanks for stopping by my bookshelf,Cheryl CapshawRead more about this authorRead less about this author