Shirley CurtisShirley Curtis was born and raised on the family farm in Iowa. Three things were always available on the farm: horses, books, and horse-loving sisters. Shirley read in bed, in trees, the barn, on the school bus, or on the hay wagon. Shirley once senta writing test to a school that accepted her, until they found out she was twelve! The suggestion was made to wait until she was older. That success lit a spark that she could be a writer one day.Shirley is a three time graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature. This, her life experiences with horses and her own horse whisperer made writing "The Horse of Her Own" a necessity. It just had to come out. Ironically, Shirley received the Peruvian Horse of her own for an anniversary present after she wrote the book. And, again ironically, he was the same color as her fictional horse.Shirley still lives in Iowa, but enjoyed 2 1/2 years living in Peru, South America and meeting and riding Peruvian Peruvian Paso's. She very much misses the many friends she had to leave there.Shirley is very proud of her family: husband Larry, daughter Melanie, son James and his wife Jovanna, daughter Tessa and husband Mike, and their two adorable sons. Read More Read Less