Bio
Growing up on a farm in western Kansas meant there weren’t many neighborhood kids to play with — but there were books. Jillie Mae read anything she could get her hands on, finding comfort, adventure, and life lessons tucked between the pages. Some stories she loved so much she read them hundreds of times. Those early reading years shaped her heart, her imagination, and her lifelong wish to share that same joy with young people.
After decades spent writing for the business world, Jillie Mae finally turned toward the dream that had been waiting patiently: writing for children and young adults. Today, she lives in a book‑filled home in Orlando, Florida, with her partner Mike and three cats. She’s also a proud mother of two daughters, two sons‑in‑law, and four grandsons — Dane, Gael, Isaac, and Ephraim — who inspire her every day.
A tender, uplifting story for every child who has ever wondered if they were enough, Tilly the Tarantula shows that the bravest magic is believing you already shine.