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       One of Thirteen has given me a chance to reflect on my family heritage and savor times of the past. Publishing during the COVID pandemic, I witnessed how families cohabitated in different ways, many to a slower, simpler pace that I hope will continue. 

       A goal of mine is to inspire questions and opportunities for conversations with adults and children. Young family members need that sense of belonging and the confidence that comes from understanding their family's connections. That's why I included a list of questions for young and old to discuss together.

      Life was not always easy as Olga Agnes (my real-life mother and main character in One of Thirteen) experienced in her large family growing up in the 1940s.

       Olga, being one of thirteen children to Eastern European immigrant parents in the small hamlet of Maplewood (near Watervliet, NY), my cousins and I often heard hardship stories of their past. Some of those stories, I'm sure, were embellished over the years. Through her 89 years of life, Olga maintained her love, gratitude, and pride being one of thirteen children in her family. 

       It's safe to assume the face and size of families are changing, but the same important family values remain -- unconditional love, care, protection, support, encouragement, and teaching right and wrong.

       I’m extremely grateful for my immediate family as a wife, mother, and grandmother. Living in upstate New York, I am inspired by many great picture book authors, nature, and the creative world around us. Besides writing, you might also find me trying new recipes, dragon boating, playing pickleball, or traveling. I have worked in education for over 25 years in various positions and am proud to be a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

       I am currently working on an early middle-grade chapter book about Olga's adventures in her One of Thirteen large immigrant family. 

© 2020 by Catherine Zampier 

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