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I had various pets growing up, including rabbits, turtles, goldfish, and a white rat left over from a school science project. But for those of you who have read The Best Pet of All, it will come as no surprise that my favorite pet was our dog, Caesar.

I loved making up silly poems, and created my own magazine, Rhyme Time, which also featured the comic strip adventures of Mighty Man. In high school, a horror story of mine titled “Miss Phillip’s Sixth Grade Class Goes to the Museum” (too gruesome to describe!) was published in a magazine for teens, which was the first time I was ever paid money for one of my stories. Art and English classes were always my favorite subjects.

By the time I graduated from St. Olaf College in 1983 I had changed my career plans once again. This time I wanted to work as an illustrator for Hallmark cards. When that plan fell through (I was told that I couldn’t draw well enough), I decided to become an elementary school teacher instead.