Yes, it’s true: Once upon a time, best selling author Loree Lough (literally) sang for her supper, performing before packed audiences throughout the Midwest. Now and then, she blows the dust from her 6-string to croon a tune or two for her grandkids, but mostly, she just writes. Over the years, her stories have earned hundreds of industry and "Readers' Choice" awards and 4- and 5-star reviews.

With nearly 4,000,000 (yes, that’s FOUR MILLION) copies of her books in circulation, Loree has 88 books (fiction and non-fiction for kids and adults; three novels optioned for movies; more books slated for release between now and 2013), 68 short stories, over 2,500 articles in print, and 9,000 letters from fans (carton of books to be delivered to Gloria B. in Tombstone, AZ for sending the 9,000th letter).

Loree loves sharing learned-the-hard-way lessons about the craft and the industry, and her comedic approach makes her a favorite (and frequent) guest of writers' organizations, book clubs, private and government institutions, college and high school writing programs both here and abroad.

A writer who believes in "giving back," Loree dedicates a portion of her income to Soldiers' Angels, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, and other worthwhile organizations (click the "Giving Back" tab to see a full list).

She splits her time between a tiny home in the Baltimore suburbs and an even tinier cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, and shares both with her real-life hero Larry, who rarely complains, even when she adds yet another item to her vast collection of "wolf stuff."