This is a Cochiti Pueblo Storyteller doll by potter Mary Anderson. My awesome sister Kathy commissioned it for me. It reflects me telling stories to my six children, which I always did--and I carry on the tradition with my grandchildren.

MY "OTHER" WRITING LIFE: In addition to books, I have published features, nonfiction, prose, poetry and humor in a variety of magazines and newspapers, such as Boys' Life (two cover stories), Cobblestone, Humpty Dumpty, The Buffalo News, The Toledo Blade and Writer's Digest, to name a few. I currently also write a personal column called Scrapbag for our local newspaper.

WORK EXPERIENCE: Correspondent reporter for The Niagara Gazette and The Buffalo News for fifteen years. I have been a writing instructor with the Institute of Children's Literature for the past twenty years. I have also presented workshops at writing conferences in New York and Ohio.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; Northern Ohio SCBWI Chapter; Children's Writers and Illustrators of Northeast Ohio.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: I am available to speak on writing at schools, libraries and community and business organizations.

PERSONAL: I am married to Pat Ryan and we have six children (all off and happily working), a pile of grandchildren and even a great-grandchild! I love writing, of course, but I can also knit up a storm, bake a mean loaf of bread, take fairly decent photos (see those on this web site), love the outdoors (including kayaking and canoeing) and have had some neat experiences is my life thus far: riding on a camel and elephant, submerged in a nuclear submarine and also a small submersible, zip-lining, exploring a cave in Belize, swimming with sea lions in Baja, Mexico and spinner dolphins off the coast of Hawaii, chasing and riding in hot air balloons, and boogie-boarding in both Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. And I'm always up for more. As you can see by my recent blog post, I've already found something!