Education Master of Arts in History Education and Writing, Antioch University, 1994. Personalized degree plan focused on non-traditional methods of teaching history, with a special emphasis in historical fiction. Bachelor of Science in Environmental Education, West Virginia University, 1981. Interdisciplinary program with additional emphasis in American History and Creative Writing. Professional Experience Interpreter, Pottawatomie Lighthouse, Rock Island State Park. Served as volunteer live-in docent, 2009-2011. Volunteer.  Provide support to the writing community.  Past President and WILLA Competition Chair of Women Writing the West.  Have also served as a scholarship competition judge for Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators - WI chapter, and as a member of the advisory committee for Mystery Writers of America's  MWA:  Reads! youth literacy program. Instructor, Mount Mary College, 2005.  Taught Advanced Creative Writing. Senior Educational Specialist for Social Studies, Instructional Programs Development, Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, 1994-2003. Facilitated development and design, wrote scripts, and oversaw production of educational videos and related curriculum materials. Worked closely with students, teachers, historians, cultural experts, and other consultants.  Credits include: co-executive producer and scriptwriter of Cultural Horizons, Cultural Horizons of Wisconsin, Investigating Wisconsin History, and Exploring Wisconsin Our Home series; scriptwriter for New Dawn of Tradition: A Wisconsin Powwow, the first instructional program produced in high-definition television; also authored or co-authored teacher guides for each. Curator of Interpretation and Collections, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Old World Wisconsin Historic Site, 1982-1994. Designed and delivered educational programs for children and families attending large outdoor living-history site. Gained practical first-hand knowledge of social history, crafts, foodways, children's activities, etc. Served as a Lead Interpreter, 1982-1983. Instructor, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Continuing Studies, 1998 - 2009. Taught workshops on historical and juvenile fiction; Instructor, The Building Blocks of Children's Literature, for the annual Write-By-The-Lake Retreat. Instructor, Civil War Institute, Carroll College, 1997 - 1999. Taught seminars, Wisconsin Women and the Civil War and Maryland Civilians and the Antietam Campaign. Instructor, Education Department, Edgewood College, 1994. Taught semester course, Instructional Methods: Integrating Science, Social Studies, and Environmental Education. Volunteer Interpreter, Civil War Programming, 1986-1996. Provide living-history presentations, portraying a variety of 19th-century women, at historic sites and battlefields throughout the middle and eastern United States. Speaker/Educator Have frequently provided talks, workshops, or classroom visits. Sites/hosts have included the Johns Hopkins University, Conference on Women in the Civil War, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, the Association for State and Local History, the Association of Living History Farms and Agricultural Museums, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, various Civil War Round Tables, Midwest Open-Air Museums Coordinating Council, McCauley Distinguished Lecture Series at Washington County Free Library, Historical Novel Society Conference, Hoard Historical Museum, and dozens of elementary and middle schools. Writing Experience Books: The Heirloom Murders (Midnight Ink, 2011) Old World Murder (Midnight Ink, 2010) Clues in the Shadows: A Molly Mystery (American Girl, 2009). The Runaway Friend: A Kirsten Mystery (American Girl, 2008). Midnight in Lonesome Hollow: A Kit Mystery (American Girl, 2007).  Hearts of Stone (Dutton Books for Young Readers,  2006).  Highland Fling, (Cricket Books, 2006). Secrets in the Hills: A Josefina Mystery (American Girl, 2006).    Danger at the Zoo: A Kit Mystery (American Girl, 2005).  Betrayal at Cross Creek (Pleasant Company Publications, 2004). Ghosts of Vicksburg (White Mane Publishing, 2003).  Whistler in the Dark (Pleasant Company Publications, 2002). Trouble at Fort La Pointe, (Pleasant Company Publications, 2000).  Retreat from Gettysburg (White Mane Publishing, 2000). Too Afraid to Cry: Maryland Civilians in the Antietam Campaign (Stackpole Books, 1999). The Bravest Girl in Sharpsburg (White Mane Publishing, 1997). The Night Riders of Harpers Ferry (White Mane Publishing, 1996). Videos: Cultural Horizons of Wisconsin and Cultural Horizons, project director and scriptwriter, Wisconsin Educational Communications Board/Wisconsin Public Television, 2002-2003. Two ten-part series about cultural diversity, one Wisconsin-specific and one covering North America, designed for fourth through sixth grade students. Also co-authored the accompanying Teacher Guide. New Dawn of Tradition: A Wisconsin Powwow, scriptwriter, Wisconsin Educational Communications Board/Wisconsin Public Television, 1998. A single program highlighting a cultural and social event significant to many Native American nations; first instructional program written for high-definition television (HDTV) production. Investigating Wisconsin History, project director and scriptwriter, Wisconsin Educational Communications Board/Wisconsin Public Television, 1998. A twelve-part series about Wisconsin's history designed for fourth grade students. Also co-authored the accompanying Teacher Guide. Exploring Wisconsin Our Home, co-scriptwriter, Wisconsin Educational Communications Board/Wisconsin Public Television, 1995. A fourteen-part series about Wisconsin's cultural geography designed for fourth grade students. Also authored the accompanying Teacher Guide. Other writing credits include articles, essays, or poems published in Appalachian Heritage, Fox Cry Review, Perceptions Journal, Cobblestone, America's Civil War, Civil War Times Illustrated, Columbiad, Wilderness, Boundary Waters Journal, Wisconsin Trails, Quilters' Newsletter Magazine, and other publications. Awards & Honors Books: • Editors' Choice Selection, Historical Novels Review • "Books for the Teen Age" List, New York Public Library (twice) • Arthur Tofte/Betty Ren Wright Children's Literature Award, Council for Wisconsin Writers (four times) • Children's Literature Award, Society of Midland Authors • “Teachers’ Choices” List, International Reading Association • National Summer Reading Program Prize Selection, Barnes & Noble • Agatha Award Nomination for Best Children's/Young Adult Mystery, Malice Domestic (three times) • Flora MacDonald Award, Scottish Heritage Center, St. Andrews Presbyterian College • Best Historical Fiction Novel Nomination, Disney Adventures Magazine, • "Children's Book Sense Picks" List, American Book Sellers Association • "Young Adult GEMS" List, Brodart’s • Volunteer State Book Award Nomination, TN Library Association/TN Association of School Librarians • WILLA Literary Award Finalist, for Children's/Young Adult Book, Women Writing The West, • Edgar Allan Poe Award Nomination, for Best Children's Mystery Book, Mystery Writers of America "Celebrating Diversity: Great Reads Featuring Multicultural Families" List, Adoptive Families Magazine History Book Club Alternate Selection Short Story: • Finalist, Fish Short Story Prize Videos:  • Emmy for Outstanding Achievement for Children's Programming -- Children's Series, Midwest Chapter, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences • Aurora Award - Platinum Best of Show,  Instructional Programming/Social Studies, Aurora International Independent Film and Video Competition • Aurora Award - Gold, Instructional Programming/Social Studies, Aurora Independent Film and Video Competition • "Certificate for Creative Excellence," Instructional Programming, US International Film and Video Festival • Parents' Choice Recommended Seal,  Parents' Choice Foundation • Judge's Award for Instructional Innovation, "for far exceeding the expectations of the category," National • Educational Telecommunications Association • Wilbur Schramm Award of Excellence, Best Educational Television Program produced for use in K-12 classrooms in the United States, National Educational Telecommunications Association • "Excellence in Multicultural and Global Programming" Citation, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction • Crystal Award, presented for most innovative and outstanding project in K-12 video-based instruction by the Association for Educational Communications and Technology • Second Place Award, Instructional Communications/Alternate Technology, National Educational Telecommunications Association • Award of Excellence, Central Education Network



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