The award-winning author Miriam Hurdle is a retired counselor, teacher and school administrator. In her retired life, she enjoys reading, writing, singing, watercolor painting, gardening, photographing, and traveling. She resides with her husband in the sunshine state of southern California and enjoys the time with her daughter and granddaughters. Hurdle has published four children’s books. The article about her cancer experience was included in the UNDERSTANDING: An Anthology of True and Significant Life Events. Her poetry book Songs of Heartstrings–Poems of Gratitude and Beatitude was published in October 2018. The poems are illustrated with her photography and watercolor painting. Songs of Heartstrings was the solo “Medalist Winner” in the Poetry category of the 2019 New Apple Summer eBook Awards!