Julie Nye

Julie Nye established a life-long interest in dogs, horses, and storytelling before she started kindergarten. After college, she converted her growing dog expertise into volunteer involvement with multiple service dog organizations, eventually becoming a trainer, a board member, and the co-founder of a specialty program for training dogs to work with autistic children. She has been a freelance writer since 1986, with a variety of books through different publishers. Her work has varied widely, including academic supplements, biography, training materials, blogs, some fiction, and a whole lot of begging for nonprofit funds.

Nye, who makes her home in Michigan, owns two German Shepherds: Voelker, a retired service dog, and Ajo, a young upstart with absurd amounts of energy. Both are descendants of the dogs who inspired her latest book, "Shepherds of our Hearts."