Lisa Richman

Since childhood, I have been drawn to a wide variety of books and the adventures they offer - from riding the Black Stallion, to hearing the Call of the Wild with Buck, to following furry hobbit feet as they ventured into the world beyond the Shire. It does not surprise me that, as a writer, I have different stories in my head, each vying for the chance to appear on the printed page.

For many years, all those stories had to wait patiently. I earned a master’s degree in World Languages and embarked on a 25-year adventure teaching high school English and German. I loved my time working with teenagers, learning, laughing, and growing alongside them. I will forever be grateful for everything those kids taught me, and grateful for the chance to make a positive difference in the world.

Even so, the stories in my head grew louder, more insistent that they be told, and when we welcomed a 7-week-old puppy named Tavi into our home, they let loose with an all-out roar. Tavi had a lot to share with the world, and I consider it one of my life’s greatest honors that he chose me to write his tales.

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I retired early from teaching to write, to listen to those storytelling voices inside me, and hope above all I might continue learning and contributing. My first two books are completely different genres. Tavi Tails shows life through the eyes of a funny and expressive puppy, intent on training his humans to the best of his ability, determined to show them why they should never pick to Leave Forever. My original hope was that it would resonate in the hearts and funny bones of dog lovers. I now believe that Tavi's perspectives on love and family will provide inspiration to all readers and that his stories will make them smile.

Tolemac Volume 1 - Through the Towers is a young adult fantasy novel. A dog named Arthur whispered to me first, and once the people around him started to take shape, the adventure sprang to life. Elliot, a teenage girl, discovers that her dog Arthur is also a dragon, that her nemesis is her sister, and that she is from a different land. Underneath that, it is a story about belonging, about where one fits both in the world, and in their own family, and the realization that belonging may not be worth the price you have to pay. This is the first book in the Tolemac series. Currently, I am working on the second book – The Young Trees – and am excited to see what the characters have in store. So far, it has been quite a spectacular ride.

I live in Northern Michigan with my husband Michael and our three dogs, Tavi, Molly, and Shosti Shostakovich. It is the place we all love best – trees, sand dunes, and lakes, summer’s crisp green against a vivid blue sky, winter’s fairyland of snow-laden pines. If ever there was a place to explore different paths, to listen to the variety of stories in one’s head, this is it.