Maria Ereni Dampman is an American writer who lives on a small farm in Virginia with her husband, Rich, and far too many critters. A graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Communication Studies and Journalism, she's written and edited for numerous newspapers, magazines, websites and blogs. She's also an award-winning speechwriter, and the first person from the state of Pennsylvania to become a semifinalist at the Interstate Oratorical Competition. Examples of her winning work has been featured in numerous editions of collegiate textbooks for the past two decades. Maria is an insatiable animal lover who shares her home with her dogs, cats horses, Mammoth American Jackstock, peafowl and a varying number of chickens depending how hungry the local fox population is. An equestrienne since practically birth, Maria has ridden and shown horses most of her life, her greatest passions being riding aside, trail riding and rehabilitating abused horses in a safe and nurturing atmosphere.When not riding or writing, Maria is a voracious reader and loves to tinker around in the garden, although she kills more plants than she cultivates. At the end of the day, there's nothing she loves more than a good glass of wine as she watches the deer and horses frolic in her pastures.Read more about this authorRead less about this author