H.L. McCall

I was born in Gt. Falls, Montana, and wound up somewhat of a feral kid. When I was in second grade, I spent much of my time writing little kids' stories, not giving it a lot of thought, just doing it for my own entertainment. Years later, I ran into the teacher and she told me she had kept my little stories and showed them to her students. I was a little surprised.

I spent a few years in reform school where the Administrator, Ruby Miller, became my mentor. She really taught me how to be a person, and gave me a love of music and art.

I did some more roaming around when I graduated from there, then finally went to college, studying elementary education. This was the time when the Goldflaks was written. I didn't get through the math, and wound up in the chemical dependency field. I started an outpatient treatment center, which went on for 27 years. I burnt out on the financial stuff, and just in time - the economy crashed after I closed the business. Things work that way for me.

I moved to Arizona along with my husband Gary, 3 dogs and 3 horses, and now have a place on a piece of property, and plenty of time to write. The cover on the book "The Rescue of Sage" has one of my horses on it. He's the people-lover, and the goofball in the family.

Both "Claire" and "Sage" come from various clients I have worked with through the years. I love women and love to write about them.

I have now published an autobiography, "I Learned to Dance in Reform School", about my years there, and the wonderful woman that helped make me the person I am today. Bless you, Ruby.