Winifred Conkling studied journalism in college and later worked as a writer and editor at various newspapers and magazines, and has written over 30 non-fiction books for adults. She earned an MFA in Writing from Vermont College. She now lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a dog, two rats, a horse and quite a few squirrels and chipmunks in the backyard. Conkling is the winner this year of the Tomás Rivera Award.