Jo Anne Beaty

For more that 35 years, I was a teacher in a variety of settings. Most of my time was spent in the elementary classroom. One of my favorite things to do was to read books to my students and to encourage them to write their stories. I loved to read their work and watch their delight when they realized they had stories to tell.

The Goat Woman had its beginnings in my childhood when we told stories at slumber parties about the goat woman who lived out on a South Arkansas highway. But Jodie and her grandmother are fictitious characters. I hope that Jodie's story helps children understand that their fear of the unknown is often misplaced. We should all strive to explore and learn more about others. New friendships can be wonderful gifts.