Amy J. Hancock

In 2004, My husband and I moved to Chicago with our sons who were both under two years old. We moved there so my husband could attend a rather demanding school program. I had recently graduated from the University of Utah, but decided to raise my babies rather than get a job. It was a tough and wonderful time. Before our move, we had a car that I loved which we had to sell to finance our cross country move. I found myself at home all day without my husband, without school, without even a car. I was in a strange new city, very far away from all my family and friends. That is when I started to write. I finished "Evie's First Magic Lesson" that first year and wrote a sequel the next. I found that writing relieved the frustration of being home all the time. If I got a few pages down, they tended to stay written. As any mother can tell you, this is not the case for cleaning a house or putting fresh clothes on a toddler.

Five years and two more children later, I know that my greatest success is my amazing family, but I am grateful to see my book in print. It meant so much to me during a difficult couple years. I look forward to the day my kids are old enough to read these stories. It will truly bring this project full circle.