Why this program is important to me:

I was seriously injured in a car accident on May 3, 1993. A defective light pole fell as I drove by it. The pole slammed down upon the roof of my car and I got crushed inside. By April of 2000, the injuries caught had up to me. I could not function because of the disc problems and the nausea from the severe migraine type headaches (24/7 for 8 years).  The injuries and enormous medical bills drained me of the person I was. To make things worse, the decision was made to close up Huga Tuga Creations because it was so difficult to achieve success in the publishing industry. Things at the time seemed bleak and very depressing for me.

However, as much as I wanted to, I couldn't quit. I went back to college at the time of the accident (when the injuries allowed) and I decided to focus on children's literature. Becoming an author was always a dream of mine. I learned a powerful lesson from those classes, which allowed me to build self-esteem and help me work my way through the injuries & difficulties:

**The more you read -- the more you learn -- the more you learn -- the more powerful your imagination becomes. The more powerful your imagination -- the more amazing things you can do with your life regardless of the adversity. Literacy builds confidence and self esteem.

My imagination would not allow me to quit.  It gave me the inspiration to write the Wonder Series and create the Huga Tuga Literary Experience the children experience today.      

My family was also an enormous influence and help.  Without their patience and enthusiasm I don't know where I would be today.  They are the reason Huga Tuga exists.  My personal goal is to design a literary experience for students unlike any other available to schools.  A program that will get kids to believe in the “ideas” they create with their imaginations.