Ann M MracekAnn Mracek has always been the keeper of her own calendar, expressing her creative flow through a kaleidoscope of entrepreneurial adventures.She is the author of My Best Friends Live in the Woods: The Adventures of Albert. Albert Raccoon is adopted b Mother Skunk in an enchanted forest. Each chapter teaches concepts of mindfulness and compassion in a fun interactive way, followed by discussion and questions to encourage meaningful conversation. As storyteller, illustrator, and composer, she is producing this novel as a series of videos on YouTube at My Best Friends Live in the Woods.Ann was the director of Aabla Raqs (mirror dance) Belly Dance Company. Under this umbrella, she was principal dancer, choreographer, teacher, and composer of dance music, as well as the costume and set designer. She is author of the children's book, Friendship Flies the Sun: The Ancient Egyptian Legend of Scarab Beetle, which the dance company performed as an interactive stage show at schools and Renaissance faires.She has been a singer and dancer at Six Flags Over Mid America, the lead in many musicals, and a singer in a popular event band. She also founded Mracek Studio in 1979, where she still teaches piano, voice, and music composition.Ann has her bachelor's and master's degrees in music theory composition from the University of Kansas, having earned both degrees in four years.She composes for her beloved instrument, the piano, almost daily.Recordings and scores of her Symphony No. 1 Shadow Dragon, chamber works, piano, and piano/vocal compositions are available on her website: https: //www.mybestfriendsliveinthewoods.com.Ann has one grown daughter and two adored grandchildren. She lives with her husband Richard in Saint Louis, Missouri. Avid travelers, their exuberant love of adventure and passion for cultures has had them in twenty-two countries in the past thirteen years: many multiple times. As world citizens, our shared humanity is best expressed through compassion.Her unique experiences as both teacher and creator combine with humor and insight to make her a masterful storyteller and an excellent speaker.To contact the author, please send an email to: annmracek@annmracek.comMore information is available at https: //annmracek.com Read More Read Less