Mariah Clark Skewes, known in her real life as Mary Boyle, knows from experience that children have individual personalities that can be shaped, but not changed - her own four adult children are unique and talented, each following their own dreams. Mariah/Mary's degrees in Psychology and Special Education have guided her work with children for many years as both a teacher and school administrator, specializing in connecting with those kiddos who sometimes have presented the greatest challenges - yet yielded the greatest rewards. She and her husband live on a vineyard in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California where they grow wine grapes and raise honeybees and Babydoll Southdown Sheep. When not writing, she enjoys volunteering as a CASA with children in the foster care system, competing in world marathons and travelling.