Valerie Sherrard Author Biography
Valerie Sherrard was born in 1957 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and grew up in various parts of Canada. Her father was in the Air Force so the family moved often, and was sent to live in Lahr, West Germany, when Valerie was in grades 6 and 7. It was there that a teacher encouraged her toward writing, although nearly three decades would pass before she began to pursue it seriously.
Valerie has made her home in New Brunswick since 1980. In 1985, her second child, Rebecca, died at the age of 19 months. This led her to a decision to foster children in need of homes and over the years she fostered approximately 70 adolescents for various lengths of time. Valerie also worked as the Director of a group home for teens for more than a decade. It was quite natural, in light of those experiences, that when she began to write in earnest, she wrote for young adults.
Valerie eventually gave up fostering and left her job at the group home and is now a full-time writer. She soon expanded her work to include picture books and middle novels as well, enjoying the challenges of writing for those age groups.
Isabelle Malenfant Illustrator Biography
Isabelle was born in the north of Quebec, between gold mines and lakes, in the city of Val d’Or. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Université du Québec à Montréal, and then fell in love with illustration. Since then, she has illustrated more than a dozen children’s books, including the highly acclaimed Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress. She makes her home in Montréal with her family.
