I have divided my years between family, ranching, teaching, painting and writing, with a number of other adventures thrown in. The ranching and the teaching equipped me with materials to write my first two novels. My experiences horse-packing in the Montana wilderness became a subject for novel number three. And along came novel number four. My early years as a ranchers wife were somewhat unique. I was raised in the Chicago suburbs, but fell in love with Montana as a teenager and determined to go to college at Montana State University in Bozeman. I met my husband and a few years later found myself on a small ranch in Western Montana. City girl to cattle rancher. Although fictionalized, this story is somewhat autobiographical. I am still writing stories about our lives and painting. My new show opened last week. I am truly blessed to have lived this beautiful and adventurous life.