The idea for Glitter Girl was born several years ago in a conversation between my daughter, Mary Grace and myself. My littlest, Lilly, loves to look at books, and the more that she and I shared favorite books, the more that the seed of an idea began to take place. As the story developed, I shared it with all three of my children, including my son, Dusty. They all had helpful suggestions and insight that live in the book. Slowly but surely, the story came together: the Crazy Cheese, Pearl the Cat, the grocery store, the butcher. It wasn?t until I called Elizabeth Dulemba, the illustrator, that the book came to life. It's amazing to see images that once existed only inside my head appear in color above the words. Glitter Girl and the Crazy Cheese completes the circle for me. It is the connection of my writing life, and my real life, kept separate on the surface far too long. There is great pleasure in the idea that my children, who helped write this book, will someday send their kids to the bedroom to make the evening selection, and maybe, just maybe, Glitter Girl and the Crazy Cheese will come out clutched in little hands. What a wonderful thought.