D L Maynard

Dee read her first book when she was two and taught her dolls to read when she was four. A career in the literary arts was inevitable. But paper and pen were too cumbersome to keep up with her thoughts, her 1959 Smith-Corona too prone to jammed keys, and for decades works of more than a few paragraphs remained fully written only in her mind. And then she met Vicki (a.k.a. Victoria MacApple), who moved in with her in 2007 and began to transform her scribblings into works of literature that all her friends -- and thousands of readers worldwide -- could enjoy. She brought Vicki to Israel in January 2014, though Vicki did NOT wade in the Sea of Galilee with her (see photo) since Vicki is prone to short-circuit when immersed.

In order to support her writing habit Dee trains junior astronauts at Kennedy Space Center and leads kayaking eco-tours, introducing nature enthusiasts to the beauty of Florida's waterways. Dee also serves on the staff of LifePointe Ministries and has been actively involved in church planting since 2008. She holds a Bachelors Degree in English Language Arts from the University of Central Florida and a Masters Degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. Her only pet is a stuffed dog named George, since two teenage boys (who serve as the inspiration for the characters of Yuannan and Katan) provide her with more than enough fun!