Mary Jo Beswick is an award winning children's book author and illustrator. Her first book, Lonely Lady Ladybug, won the 2016 Vinnie Ream Award from the National League of American Pen Women. Messy Magic Birthday is her second book. Beswick was a professional artist for twenty years before turning her talent for making whimsical paintings into creating picture books for children. Born and raised in Huntington, NY, she has lived in eight different states and in the south of France where she started painting and writing. Today she lives on the Northern Neck of Virginia near the Chesapeake Bay with her husband, Barry, and their Goldendoodle, Ozzie. Mary Jo Beswick is an award winning children's book author and illustrator. Her first book, Lonely Lady Ladybug, won the 2016 Vinnie Ream Award from the National League of American Pen Women. Messy Magic Birthday is her second book. Beswick was a professional artist for twenty years before turning her talent for making whimsical paintings into creating picture books for children. Born and raised in Huntington, NY, she has lived in eight different states and in the south of France where she started painting and writing. Today she lives on the Northern Neck of Virginia near the Chesapeake Bay with her husband, Barry, and their Goldendoodle, Ozzie.