Joan M Hellquist

I was born in Summit, NJ and left there when I went off to The University of New Hampshire. I've lived in many states, got two more college diplomas and worked in healthcare while continuing my artwork. I love to travel both domestically and in other countries. With two friends I played hammered dulcimer in a band and I used to enjoy river trips and backpacking before my body told me I'd done enough of that. The two constants in my life have been my love for children and animals.

Some of my travel has been to view and photograph animals in the wild and as a kid I was both a horse and dog lover. I've had at least one dog my entire adult life. right now I have one, Piki. Piki is my service dog and helps me to write about her adventures as a service dog. Piki Goes to College is the story of her (our) training to become a service dog. The second Piki book has just come out, Piki Goes Flying. In it Piki tells her story about getting ready for and experiencing her first flights on an airplane. There will be one more book in the Piki series.

I'm not lucky enough to have my own children. My first book, Beyond the Stars: The Other Side Through a Child's Eyes, is a story about a little girl, Jamie, my daughter, and two animals who teach Jamie all about where they are. Writing that book was a form of grief therapy for me. Others have told me reading that book to children or grandchildren has been a great way to introduce the concept of death in a way that is not scary or overly sad.

My being in the company of children has been mostly in healthcare, but since 2017 I have been a Bereavement Facilitator at the NM Children's Grief Center.

Children and animals are kindred spirits. They are innocent, without baggage, full of unconditional love and always tell you the truth.