Joan M HellquistThis is Joan M Hellquist's third children's book and second Piki book. Joan has been an artist all of her life but writing and illustration is relatively new for her. She has worked in healthcare for many years and had her own business, Artistic Endevors, which has covered many forms of her own artistic endeavors including drawing and painting, playing hammered dulcimer in a band and now her children's books. Joan has been trained as a Service Dog instructor/trainer and has her own Service Dog, whom she trained. Her Service dog's name is Piki, which rhymes with sneaky. In Joan's books, Piki Goes to College and this one, Piki Goes Flying, Piki tells her own story. Joan also works with children as a volunteer bereavement facilitator at The Grief Center in Albuquerque. Throughout her life, Joan has been especially drawn to children, animals, Native American culture and art, traditional music, the wilderness and travel. Joan has lived in New Mexico since 1988 and all of her life, she has gone to New Hampshire for at least part of the summer. Although New Mexico and New Hampshire are quite opposite from each other, she loves them both. Read More Read Less