Loretta is a former teacher with a MFA in Writing for Children from Hamline University.  She's also the author of four novels for younger readers (Shrouding Woman, In Search of Mockingbird – Henry Holt; In a Heartbeat, Unforgettable – Walker), as well as an adult historical novel Stars Over Clear Lake, set in Iowa during WWII (Thomas Dunne).  She teaches at writing festivals and workshops across the nation.