Left outside the iron gates of a Midwestern orphanage, an infant is found crawling in the snow among the dead leaves of the ivy that climbed the brick walls that surrounded the huge mansion that was now The Iowa Home for Foundlings. It was during the hardships of The Great Depression when many children were left abandoned in institutions. Most of the children left at this particular home would be eventually reclaimed. Some were left for adoption, and a few would become "keepers." Lacking official court papers the baby girl found that cold snow covered December night wrapped in an old flannel shirt and wearing a feed sack for a diaper, was deemed to be one of their "keepers." This is Ivy's story.
About the Author: I was born in Parker County, Texas into the fifth generation of my family in the very tiny community that is Millsap, Texas. My family moved to a ranch in Winters, California when I was two years old, where my parents raised their 6 children. I learned to read at the age of five and my love affair with books became a reality when the bookmobile came to our two room country school when I was nine. I took that bookmobile like the grasshoppers took Kansas. Well versed in children's classics by age thirteen, I knew this was what I wanted to do, write books and stories for young readers. I have done this with The Sweet Annie Series. I started my writing career as a freshman in high school with my own column in our school newspaper. In my sophomore year I became editor of that paper by a student body election. I had found my niche and looked forward to a career as a journalist. But life does not always go as planned. I married young and my writing was put on hold as I raised my five children. I found outlets for my writing passion in my work as a director and writer for a small theater group called The North Mentor Centenary Players. All the while I had different characters running through my mind and finally after all of my children were raised and at the age of 66, I wrote and published my first book, Sweet Annie, followed by two more, Forever Annie, and Annie's Legacy making a 3 book series. I quickly found that this series not only appealed to the young but also to readers of all ages. Based on my family's rich history; specifically my grandmother Annie Cowan these books are filled with adventure and humor in a world not too far past but different from America today. This series has been hailed by the educational system for its historical significance. There is no objectionable language or undue violence except that which pertains to life in that era. I have written and published my autobiography, Running on Empty. My story of an abusive marriage, my escape with my four children and my recovery. After that book came two novels, Jerzy Girl and Ivy Snow. You are never too old to pursue your dream. Almost 45 years ago I married David Morris, we added a daughter to the other four and now live in the Midwest where I continue to write and will publish more works in the very near future.