I grew up with stories all around me, reading Little Golden Books, hearing my mother recite poetry, and listening in when adults shared events and memories with each other.

I wrote and illustrated my first story when I was eight. My mother bound the pages in a construction paper cover tied with yarn.

I was the daughter of what at the time was called a mixed marriage–Mennonite mother and father of English-Scotch-Irish heritage. This allowed me to be both participant in and observer of different customs and ways of speaking, and it contributed to a life-long interest in history, culture, and language.

I have taught and written curriculum for pre-school, elementary, middle school, and adult levels in public school, religious, and business settings. This led to writing articles for professional and organizational magazines and newsletters, and publication of a trade book,

Now I am interested in writing stories that begin with experiences I’ve heard from my heritage and grow into novels. I’m sure your family also has interesting people with interesting stories. I hope things you find here inspire you to find and tell your stories.

Carolyn Zeisset