Mary Bleckwehl has spent her career promoting literacy and the love of learning. She taught for over 25 years and held administrative positions in higher education in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Iowa, and Minnesota. Bleckwehl grew up in a large farm family and quickly learned magic and grabbed every opportunity to read. Bleckwehl has three adult children and lives in Northfield, MN with her husband. She has presented to over 90,000 students in schools and young writer conferences. Her debut middle grade novel, The Worry Knot, and The Birthday Cookbook join her list of published work, which includes three award-winning picture books.