Ann Tarpley FrancescoAnn Tarpley Francesco attended Radford University in Radford, Virginia where she earned her teaching certification for early childhood and middle education. Ann also earned a B.A. in business administration at Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Virginia Two lesson plans she developed were included in teacher resource books entitled, Sweet Numbers (Learn Every Day About Numbers, Gryphon House Books) and Yummy Colors (Learn Every Day About Colors, Gryphon House Books). Her son, Matthew, inspired her writing through his love of trains, first in poetic responses she would include in his first grade parent/student writing assignments and then as a short story. Ann's first book, The Gingerbread Train-Santa's Secret Gift emerged when she was inspired to write a children's book as a gift to her children. Both Matthew and her daughter, Courtney were the inspiration behind the two lead characters in the book. Do You Like Trains? was also written as a result of the first grade parent/student assignment. It was written in the spirit of Dr. Seuss because the students were celebrating Dr. Seuss week in school. Ann loved creating rhyming poetry and incorporated trains and what the students were learning in class in her poems. In her spare time, she enjoys working out at the gym, cooking, traveling, and crating unique sugar scrubs and body butters. She is an impassioned advocate of healthy living and an active lifestyle. Read More Read Less