A world traveler, Ann McGovern has visited every continent -- yes, even Antarctica! She scuba dives in oceans around the world. Ann McGovern grew up in New York City, where she lives today. She began to write when she was eight years old.

Ann went to college out West, to the University of New Mexico, but she didn't stay there for long. She learned a lot from her travel experiences, from her scuba diving expeditions, and from researching her books. Ann and her husband, Marty Scheiner, had many adventures together around the world. Every year, Ann and her family take a vacation somewhere in the world.

GROWING UP

My father died when I was five and though I shared a room with my older sister, I often felt very alone and sad. I stuttered a lot and never spoke in class. Of course I had feelings I wished to express but since I couldn't talk about them, I began writing poems about my feelings and thoughts. From the time I was eight years old, I always felt better about myself after writing.

I went out West to the University of New Mexico and married my English teacher. I had a son when I was just 20 years old. Then when he was 18 months old, my marriage was over and I returned to New York. I worked at any job I could get to support myself and my baby. I remember the hard times, living in a fifth-floor walk-up tenement, with the bathtub in the hall and only cold water. I worked as a waitress, as a model, in publishing companies. Working at a publishing company inspired me to try writing a children's book. That was more than 35 years ago!

I married Marty Scheiner in 1970 and with him, I learned to scuba dive, sail, and photograph around the world. He died in 1992.

I leave New York City often these days to visit schools, travel somewhere exciting, and visit my children, grandchildren, granddogs and grandcats I spend a month every year in Mexico. I love to return to New York City and the excitement and multi-colors of the most vibrant city in the world.