Sandra Belton is the author of 12 books of fiction, including the Ernestine & Amanda series, McKendree, Pictures for Miss Josie, and The Tallest Tree. Belton graduated from Howard University, got her Masters in Education from George Washington University, and became a teacher. After several years she left the classroom to develop technology components for the educational market. She says she didn't always want to be a writer but always loved telling stories. In 1993, her first book for children, From Miss Ida's Porch, was published and praised by Publishers Weekly as "a powerful debut." In November 2013, the Ernestine & Amanda series is being newly released by Amazon Publishing, and, in addition to featuring several changes, includes a never-before-published fifth book, Ernestine & Amanda: Goodbye. Hello.... Belton says, "Ernestine and Amanda are the keepers of my childhood memories and dreams. Their voices echo the ones I heard while chasing lightning bugs and playing at twilight with the kids down the street. The events of their lives and the heroes they celebrate are the ones of our heritage." Belton grew up in Beckley, West Virginia, a town she describes as having "wonderful porches"-porches being a common theme in many of her stories. She loves reading and, like Ernestine, playing the piano and remembers well a time before TV, computers, and video games-"those wonderful imagination-building hours." Check out the website created specifically for the Ernestine & Amanda series and an understanding of the times in which they live: www.ernestineandamanda.com www.sandrabelton.com