Her love for books started early in life.  She fondly remembers her first visit to a bookstore, where she got to choose her very own book to buy and keep ("The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss"--which she still has).  She liked reading all kinds of books and writing poetry in elementary school and even made her own "library" in her room.

     Terry has a B.A. degree in Early Childhood Development and an international A.M.I. teaching diploma.  She was a pre-primary Montessori teacher, working with three to six year old children.  She taught for twenty-two years before deciding to follow her dream of writing for children (what she calls, "the best mid-life crisis ever!").  She's been writing since 1999, with her work appearing in pet magazines, children's and parenting magazines, and the book market.

     She moved to the high desert of California over twenty years ago.  She lives in a big blue house with a terrific husband, one goldfish and two crazy cats.  Her house has also been home to various animals through the years, such as dogs, cats, frogs, lizards, a guinea pig and fish. Her son, one of her greatest joys, is now grown and is a marine scientist. 

     She experiences the joys of being a writer in many ways.  She loves meeting children and adults through book signings, school visits and workshops.  She directed the Writer's Club at Faller Elementary School in Ridgecrest, CA and is an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, serving on the Ventura/Santa Barbara regional board.

     Terry has been many things in her life--a mom, wife, daughter, friend, animal-lover, backpacker, teacher, writer, windsurfer, Taekwondo black belt, nature-lover, honor student and artist.  You could say, she loves life and grabs all she can from it!