My name is Lori E. Mazzola. I was born in Anchorage, Alaska. I moved to California when I was four years old, after my only sister died of lymphoma. My parents got a divorce. It was absolutely horrific to see what my parents went through losing their eldest daughter. My mother remarried and I was the proud new owner of a step-sister, and step-brother. My father was in the Navy before I was born. He fought in Vietnam. My grandfather fought in WWII. My mother became a real estate agent and my father was a fireman on the Anchorage Alaska Fire Department. I lived with my mother, visiting my father whenever I could. I used to be a cheerleader, funny huh? I bet I just lost a few friends with that. One would think that cheerleaders are quite popular however, on the contrary I found myself being disliked for being good. We made it all the way to nationals and were disqualified for doing advanced stunts. I graduated high school and became a licensed massage technician. I am now happily married for 12 years and the mother of two wonderful children. I have been published in four different anthologies, Twilight Musings, Songs of Honour, Collected Whispers, and The Best Poems & Poets of 2005. I have received the Editor's Choice Award for my poetry. My first book, Tales of the Tree People "To tree...or not to tree?" published in 2006 won an honorable mention at the San Francisco Book Festival, New York Book Festival, and Hollywood Book Festival for children's books in 2009. My second book is entitled The Forbidden Forest: Tales of the Tree People. I continue writing the tales though I have a mental disability... Don't worry... I do not bite! :)