About Me

Life is an adventure! That is what inspires me to write. Be a sleuth and uncover clues which may help you to know me a little better. Have fun.

FAIRY PRINCESS to HOBO QUEEN
In was a long ago birthday that I pretended to be a fairy princess for the day, and duly dubbed my brother and all at my party as loyal servants! However, I am truly a hobo queen, among the latest in a long line of many wonderful women. It all began with research. As a writer, I have traveled all across the United States and to other countries meeting many interesting people.

Two of my favorite people to interview also became dear friends – The Hobo Whittler and New York Greenie. These men and many others rode the rails while looking for work during the Great Depression. Let me add right here and now that this was and still is an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS and ILLEGAL venture. Stories told to me by Whittler and Greenie captured my mind and heart as a writer. I have developed a love for this part of American history as well as the town of Britt, Iowa, the people who live there, and the hobo family.

I was proud to serve as the 2008 National Hobo Queen and dedicated my year of service as the queen to our American soldiers and veterans.

INTERVIEWS
When I travel to interview a person it is to gather information for the stories I tell as a writer and storyteller. Those interviews have led to many adventures. When you open my books, I hope the characters will take you by the hand, and my adventures will become yours as you travel with them throughout the story.

THE SHY GIRL
Wow was I ever shy growing up! I spent a great deal of time reading about the adventures of many different characters, especially Nancy Drew. My favorite place to read was at the Cambria County Public Library in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. At that time the library was located on Washington Street, in a building that has been there since 1891. You can see pictures of the building by clicking on the link to the Johnstown Area Heritage Association.

The building is no longer the library, but a wonderful flood museum. However, the marble steps that led to the children’s section on the second floor still exist. When I was young, I would peek to make certain nobody saw me (remember I was quite shy), then walk up and down those old steps several times to hear my heels click. Yes, you guessed it – I also took dancing lessons at the Kelly Dance Studio, and tap was my favorite. Though the library has relocated to Main Street, my heels still click on the marble steps of the flood museum. Yep, you bet I still tap my way up those steps!

TRINKETS OF TRIVIA:
Those old marble steps were there…

Long before my grandparents arrived in the United States from Italy

40 years before the Stock Market Crash in 1929

47 years before the second Johnstown flood in 1936

56 years before the invention of the Slinky

66 years before the opening of the first McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants

80 years before Neil Armstrong walked on the moon

88 years before the third Johnstown flood in 1977

Those steps have seen a lot of history…and water!

THE FEARSOME FOURSOME
This is a photo of the four Coco children taken in 1963. My sister, Risa, is the sleeping baby; my kid sister, Joselle, has the pixie haircut; and my brother, Larry, has curly hair. As for me…the hairdo and glasses were quite popular just before I became a Beatlemaniac. Okay, are you done laughing? I told you growing up was the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do!

THINGS I CAN’T RESIST DOING:
Asking too many questions, especially, “Why?”
Staring at the stars
Smiling at the moon
Hugging my kids and grandkids, even if they are taller than me

THINGS I CAN’T HELP DOING:
Asking too many questions, especially, “Why?”
Telling my kids and grandkids to think safety first, then have fun            Straightening crooked pictures on walls at home, in restaurants, everywhere I go
Humming or tapping along to the music

THINGS I ABSOLUTELY WON’T DO:
Stop asking too many questions
Peek to the end of a story
Drive or ride in a car without a seatbelt
Go skydiving again (it was fun, but my ears were clogged for a week)

TRUTH & TRIVIA:
Favorite Children’s Book: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Favorite Story: A Christmas Story by Charles Dickens
Favorite Character: Scrooge
Favorite quote: “When you sell a man a book, you don’t sell him 12 ounces of paper and ink and glue–you sell him a whole new life.”—Christopher Morley