“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” Maya Angelou From an early age, she sat on the arm of her grandmother’s over-stuffed rocking chair as she read to her granddaughter. The tools were Every Child’s Story Book, Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates which led to reading Jack London and Agatha Christie. The love of literature and power of words was her gift to a wide-eyed small girl. Glenda taught English Literature and creative writing. Now retired, her dream is now to focus on her own writing and has been awarded the Bess Streeter Aldrich 2023 Short Story award. She has published novels: The Legacy of Prairie Winds, Women of Dust and Wind, and two young adult novels, Time for Courage, Surviving Yellowstone and Propelling Beyond Barriers: Evelyn Sharp, No Ordinary Girl. She loves the art of creating characters and the musical sounds of words.