Charline (l) & Joy Cowley aka Mrs. Wishy Washy

I'm a "desert rat" who grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. At age six, I chose teaching as a career because I idolized my first grade teacher. In 1st grade I won a yo-yo contest, and in the 8th grade a smile contest. I've never stopped smiling. After graduating from Arizona State University with a BA in Elementary Education, I taught kindergarten through third grade in the desert locales of Phoenix, Saudi Arabia and Tucson.

I've traveled in 15 countries, lived in 19 homes in 5 states (AZ, CA, NM, NY, WI) and now live in Tucson, AZ. A kid at heart, I collect giraffes and love to stay up late and sleep late, blow bubbles, laugh, walk Presley (my cockapoo), read, write and savor dark chocolate. 

Since beginning my new career as a children's author, I've written stories and poems for children of all ages--everything from board books to novels. My stories, articles and poems have appeared in Highlights for Children, High Five, Pockets and My Friend among others.  Click publishing credits for the details.

If you'd like to know more, an in-depth interview can be found at Imagiverse.org.

LITERARY TRAINING:

University of AZ course, Writing for Children, taught by award-winning children's author Juanita Havill, 2000

SCBWI member--2000-present  

Member of critique groups with talented children's authors: Cheryl Bardoe, Judy Dyl, Juanita Havill, Monica Hay-Cook, Rose Ann Essig, Lara Hosselton, Gayle Krause, Sharon Landeen, Karen Liptak, Joelle McClure, Carol Martin, Lori Miescke, Marianne Mitchell, Judi Morellion, Lori Mortensen, Marge Pellegrino, Jane Rubicini, Buffy Silver, and Jennifer Ward, 2001-present

Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop at Chautauqua, NY--2003. 

Darcy Pattison's Novel Revision Workshop, 2006

WriterUniv.com Conflict class taught by Sherry Lewis, 2007

SSA Wrangling with Writing Conferences--2003, 2004, 2005   

Pima Writer's Workshop--2003, 2004, 2006, 2007

Society of Southwestern Authors member--2005-2007