As the daughter of an Arkansas cotton farmer, Talya grew up making mudpies and does her best thinking wearing gardening gloves. Talya is passionate about writing and spends most days working on her first book and blogging at Grace Grits and Gardening. She and her husband, John, live in Dallas with their two miniature schnauzers, Lucy and Annabelle. They have two college age children – a Texas Longhorn and an Arkansas Razorback.