LeAnne Hardy

I have lived in six countries on four continents. After a childhood in the American Midwest of Indianapolis, Indiana, I have sipped cream tea in Oxfordshire (England), slid down rocks in a Mato Grosso river (Brazil), survived multiple political coups (Ethiopia), eaten stewed goat at an African wedding (Mozambique), and climbed Table Mountain (South Africa). My books are set in a variety of countries, and each tries to capture the unique feel of that place.

I have been married to my husband since 1973. We have two daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren. I also have two degrees: a BA in philosophy (Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 1973) and an MA in library and information science (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 1977). But my secret love has always been children's literature. I began collecting beautiful picture books before I had the excuse of my own children, but I didn't start writing seriously until I was well into my forties.

I served as librarian at Good Shepherd School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (1976-77), and in theological libraries in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil (1978-1982), and Maputo, Mozambique (1985-1990). While living in South Africa (1993-1996) and consulting for theological libraries in Southern and East Africa and Eastern Europe, I began writing for young people in my spare time. When my husband, a consultant for theological schools in the developing world, was assigned to our international office in Newbery, Berkshire (1997-98), I organized 100 years of archives for our organization, the Africa Evangelical Fellowship, in preparation for a merger with Serving in Mission, SIM. A correspondence course on writing for children and young people helped me to learn skills and begin drafting The Wooden Ox.

Our return to the States in 1999 was an opportunity to attend writers' conferences and critique groups, and see my first fiction published. Back in South Africa (2005-2008) I focused on writing for children affected by HIV & AIDS, and conducted story hours in orphanages, day care centers and after-school programs for orphans and vulnerable children.

In 2008 we returned to the family lake home in the Northwoods of Wisconsin where I continue to write. When I am not at my computer, you will probably find me traveling to new or old locations, enjoying my grandchildren or off to the ice rink to figure skate. I learned to skate at the Basingstoke leisure center while researching my skating novel, Crossovers. Like my character, Ben, I am addicted.