Anastasia Gardner-Holloway found the western states highly colorful. She has visited all the National Parks and forests out west. She is a new writer on the scene and has a Bachelor of Arts. Her father wanted her to be a secretary. After working at this nonfulfilling job, she went into human services. Upon retirement, she and her husband settled in beautiful Arizona where she volunteers for the homeless and is a Board member of the Friends of the Library where she coordinates events for the yearly award they give to an outstanding Coconino County Author. She has attended several critique groups and participated in several writing lectures. When she is not painting, writing or building community, she enjoys her cat, Barney, and cares for the birds in her yard. She has just released her short story, "Journey to a Heartache."