Mary Manz Simon earned a bachelor's degree from Illinois State University, a master's degree from Erikson Institute of Loyola University, Chicago, and a doctorate from St. Louis University. Mary has taught preschool and kindergarten and at the junior college, undergraduate and graduate levels. She is a columnist for Parent Life and Christian Parenting Today magazines, a contributing editor for Christian Retailing, and a member of the advisory board for the Christian Family Book Club. Since her first book released in mid-1987, her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies and are available in nine languages, her nationally syndicated radio program airs daily on more than 200 stations and her magazine articles and national convention presentations reach thousands more each year. Gavin Scott lives in Somerset, UK with his family. He studied Natural History Illustration at Bournemouth Art College before becoming an artist for Hallmark cards. Gavin loves the countryside and draws a lot of his influence from it.