I am the co-founder of the SCBWI (along with Lin Oliver) and for its first fifty years served as President of this organization. Though I earned degrees in film and journalism from UCLA I discovered a most fulfilling career as a children's book author. My sixty works range from picture books, and middle grade fiction, as well as non-fiction and fantasy. Among my book awards is a Carle Honor and a Christopher Medal for the New York Kids Book. I live in Santa Monica, Ca