About Me

I create picture books with facts and photographs. I write about interesting things I see around me in nature.

My latest book, Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Nature (Boyds Mills Press, 2014), is my second book that explains an interesting mathematical pattern and explores the ways it shows up in nature. It follows Growing Patterns: Fibonacci Numbers in Nature (Boyds Mills Press, 2010). My first book, Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator (Boyds Mills Press, 2008), tells the story of a snail that eats other snails and slugs.

Kids, teachers, librarians, parents, and grandparents have embraced both books for their simple, compelling texts and stunning up-close photographs. Both are ALSC Notable Children's Books and Wolfsnail is a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book.

In addition to creating books, I also teach. I conduct short-term arts integrated residencies featuring photography in elementary schools, present professional development for teachers and librarians who want to infuse their lessons with nature, photography, and book-making, and teach nonfiction writing and photography to other writers.

Before I began writing books, I covered politics, business, government, and courts for two daily newspapers. I taught journalism. I wrote annual reports and other public relations pieces. I created a grant-funded program at my kids' elementary school to bring artists into the classroom.