Ardyce C. Whalen not only grew up on a farm in the Midwest (United States), but she was also born at home with a doctor and midwife in attendance. She is the oldest of six children. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a Master's Degree in Communication. Ardyce taught Language Arts in the public school system for many years, starting out as a junior high teacher and finishing as an instructor a a junior college. She and her husband raised five great kids (really) and have now retired to a warmer climate where her husband can golf all year and she can write and catch up on reading.