Hazel Ann Sheppard, born in Tucson, Arizona and formerly from Saugus, Massachusetts, has been an Ohio resident since 1970. She has enjoyed writing stories for children for many years.

   She and her husband, Wayne, met at The Ohio State University, but were married in Rockport, Massachusetts. It was on a return visit to the Rockport/Gloucester area that "Inchy" was first spotted, and the "Inchy Series" was born.

   Hazel has been doing classroom and assembly presentations with her "Inchy" books at public and private schools since 2002. She enjoys talking with the children, reading her books, and discussing various related curriculum objectives.

   It is important to Hazel that each story she writes has a very positive message and encourages discussion between children and adults.

   Hazel Sheppard and Wayne Sheppard were married in Rockport, Massachusetts in December of 1967.

   Although they live in Naples Florida, they return to Rockport nearly every year.

   Hazel is a graduate of Saugus High School in Saugus, Massachusetts, and Wayne is a graduate of Ewing High School in Trenton, New Jersey. They met while attending The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

   Wayne was a high school art, photography, and video teacher in Green, Ohio for 30 years, and Hazel has written for weekly newspapers, served as a special education aide, and written and published the three Inchy Books as well as Big Red's Greatest Find.