Maureen Boyd Biro

Maureen Boyd Biro has worn many hats in the twenty-five years she’s worked in the writing industry: freelance writer; editor; columnist; Associate Publisher; essayist; and children’s book author. Maureen is also a Certified Intuitive Practitioner and teaches dreams and creativity workshops.

The third of seven sisters, Maureen grew up in the suburb of Fair Oaks just outside Sacramento, California in a pink house in a neighborhood called The Bird Tract. She was always an avid reader and could usually be found plunked down under one of the apple trees in her back yard poring through a book. Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, A Little Princess, and The Wizard of Oz were some of the books she loved best.

By the time Maureen was thirteen she knew she wanted to be a writer. She earned her first paycheck that same year for an essay she wrote on “The Exports and Imports of Ireland.” Her teacher (who was Irish) submitted the essay to a national competition, and Maureen's career was launched.

Maureen received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from St. Mary’s College of California, and also attended Loyola University in Rome, Italy. While in Rome, Maureen learned to speak Italian and ate lots of pizza and gelato, still two of her favorite foods.

Today, Maureen lives in the Bay Area of California in the beautiful Alhambra Hills. She's the author of two picture books, Walking with Maga, published in 2002, and Blueberries Make Good Cannonballs, a picture book/​cookbook forthcoming in 2010.

Maureen is an award-winning cook. Her recipe for “Dad's Favorite Bourbon Pecan Pie” won the grand prize in a national bake-off and was published in Ladies Home Journal magazine.

Writing runs in Maureen’s family. Three of her sisters are writers, too. Maureen and her daughter, Jordan, have co-authored a picture book, Aloha, Dinos! Maureen’s son, works in publishing in Manhattan.

These days Maureen shares her home with her husband, Martin, their beagle, Scout, and a green-eyed cat named Zelda. Her current projects include a young adult novel and a memoir.

FOR MY YOUNG READERS

Here are ten fun facts about Maureen:

1. Maureen’s favorite color is green, but purple is a close second.

2. Maureen's favorite things to bake--and eat!--are cookies.

3. Maureen loves gloomy weather best--especially dark, stormy, rainy days.

4. Maureen’s favorite season is Autumn.

5. Maureen is crazy for beagles, and is a big fan of Snoopy, a beagle and a fellow writer.

6. Maureen collects antique typewriters.

7. Maureen’s childhood nickname was “Charlie Lou.” (But don’t ever call her “Mo”--she hates that!)

8. The only food Maureen absolutely will not eat is mushrooms.

9. Maureen is a native Californian--almost third generation.

10. Maureen LOVES trees--especially liquid amber trees and Ponderosa Pines.