Tricia Gardella's books are heavily influenced by ranch, animals, and family life. She has tried it all and almost mastered some: canning, cooking, knitting and other fiber arts, rug-making, gardening, and various business ventures. Her passion is writing and helping others to write quality picture books. In the 90s she published four books with major publishers, while writing a weekly picture book review for a local paper, then took a twenty-year sabbatical from writing, and is now enjoying the creative control of indie publishing. Picture books might be her favorite writing genre, but she has always read whatever grabbed her attention since childhood. She has a BA in Ancient History and Classical Archaeology, three children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, all giving her much food for thought. She lives with two self-centered cats in Central California.