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Wendy ToliverThough I'm an author and can write hundreds of thousands of words, it is always a bit daunting to sit down and come up with a biography. I can tell you the basics, like where I've lived (Texas, Colorado, and Utah), where I went to college (Colorado State University), who I live with (an amazing husband, three active sons, the world's laziest cat, a blue-eyed husky, and a yellow lab), and how I spend my time when I'm not writing (reading, snowboarding, boating, hiking, watching movies, and traveling). Those are the sorts of things you'll find out about me if you read a bio in the back of one of my books. But since you've found your way to my website, I thought I'd try to give you a sense of who I really am.

I was born in Houston, Texas. My dad worked for NASA, but he's retired now. Not only did he act the part of rocket scientist; he looked it. Complete with high-water pants, white socks, and a pocket protector, which he still wears today. My mom is a retired elementary school teacher. She has a much better sense of style than Dad, thank goodness. As the offspring of a teacher, my younger sister, brother, and I were always reading books, singing wacky songs, and taking care of a wild assortment of pets, from cats and hamsters to hedgehogs and creepy prehistoric-looking bugs called vinegaroons. Like every good Coloradoan, I became a mountain girl, skier, and avid Broncos fan.

I've had a variety of jobs, and one of the earliest was dressing as Funshine Bear for store openings. But then I grew too tall for the costume and was forced to resign. In high school, I bagged groceries at Safeway and took orders at Wendy's. Since my hair is reddish and my manager wouldn't let me put a fake name on my nametag, I heard the same stupid jokes every day. Other jobs I've had include: singing the national anthem at college basketball games, delivering newspapers, and performing singing telegrams as Marilyn Monroe.

After graduating with a B.A. in Speech Communication/Broadcast (donning a yellow gown that made me look like a giant banana), I slipped into a long, white gown and married my college sweetheart. We started our married life on his home turf, a picturesque resort town in Utah. While he immersed himself in his family business, I worked at an advertising agency and dipped my toes into writing.

I've enjoyed reading and writing for as long as I can remember, yet I never even dreamed of being a novelist until I was in my 30s. When I decided to sit down and write a book, it ended up being humorous women's fiction. It did well in contests and caught the eye of a literary agent, but none of the editors he sent it to wanted to publish it. However, several mentioned that my voice was well suited for young adult books, and a seed was planted. My first attempt at writing for the teenage audience proved successful, and in the next few years, I became a multi-published, award-winning YA author. Writing books for teens and tweens is the best job in the whole world, and I'm so blessed to have the love and support of my wonderful family, friends, and readers.


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