Robin Barnett:  

Hello, I am Robin Barnett Thomas. I was born in Avalon just outside of Pgh, Pa. March 22, 1955. I was one of 6 children born to Harvey and Wilma Barnett. We lived on Cleveland Ave since I was 18 months old. I raised 4 children on my own and know the importance of reading. While traveling to different parts of the United States with my husband Bill in the 101st Airborne, (now deceased since 1984) I always made sure no matter where we lived, there were no less than two bookshelves full of books. Most were purchsed in second stores and yard sales. But they were still BOOKS. I have always had a dream of publishing at least 10 books by the age of 55 and I have 2 published already. You can see them and purchse them on the website and locally in Northwest Georgia, where I have lived by my younger brother, Scott, for over 20 years. My two favorite stories are the "Wizard of Oz" and "The Never-Ending Story." Both stories deal with dreams, memories, reading and never ending love. When I lost my husband at the early age of 28, it hit me that I had to raise my children myself. Working two jobs most of the time and not getting my first car till years later...never asking for a handout.. our family always had a quiet time together that to us meant reading books. I read to my children nightly until at least one of them were able to read and take over a story or two. To me this was the most important time of the day. Many times we would take turns reading the books that my children had picked out. Now I am the proud grandmother of 4 beautiful grandbabies all boys and again make sure that there are books around for them to read in my home and in theirs. Whenever they want to read to me, I always make the time. One thing I will say to you and is a quote of my own.... "Time is precious and so is the mind of a child. You can either help it grow or watch it sink." Our lives still consist of one obstacle after another, and together we have always handled them..... I will always believe that the one hour a day we had spent together reading in the early lives of my children is what made them all appreciate the value of knowledge and graduate from high school. I feel that reading had to be interesting to both the reader and the listener. For that reason I decided to take my real live pets, put their lives in my stories and touch the hearts of children with them the same way my children have touche...Expand for more