Sheryl McFarlane is a writer and educator living in Victoria, B. C. She is the award-winning author of more than a dozen books for children, including: Waiting for the Whales, Jessie’s Island, I Love Kisses and Welcome Rain! Sheryl has coordinated several book tours for Canadian Children’s Book Week, organized two children’s book festivals, and chaired the Children’s Literature Roundtable in Victoria for more than ten years. She has toured extensively, spoken at numerous literacy, literature, and young writers conferences. She loves reading, gardening, and walking her mini Dachshund, Karl. The Blue Canoe was inspired by canoeing and kayaking with her children when they were young. Sheryl stocks a little free library for friends and neighbors. As an introverted kid growing up in Vermont, drawing came naturally to Laurel Aylesworth. Instead of going to the mall like most teenagers, you would find her in her room drawing scenes from Lord of the Rings or copying her favorite characters from Elf Quest comics. Later, her career path naturally led to graphic design, but something was missing (namely, Elves and magic). She found her calling as an illustrator after becoming a mother and hence, wading knee-deep in picture books from the library.