Words can be both powerful and playful. Nan's father was a simple carpenter with a sixth-grade education, but he taught her the power of words. An excellent story-teller and speaker, he could capture an audience of six children or sixty adults. Nan's mother taught her the fun of playing with words - crossword puzzles, word scrambles and poetry. She is still Nan's best proofreader.

Fresh out of college, Nan snared a freelance job as features editor for a small-town newspaper. On-the-job interviews, deadlines and tight-writing requirements sharpened her skills and taught Nan the lesson that still guides her writing today: If her first sentence doesn't snag you, she's wasted your time.

The impact Nan's parents had on her life continues. Her father eventually earned his GED, graduated from college and began teaching. Her mother got her college degree shortly after. The pen-name "Nan Keltie" was chosen because it was the name she wore as a child. It also serves to honor the memory of her father, John Adam Keltie.

My passion is ...

... touching the hearts of my readers.

My parents always told me ...

... to be thankful for my blessings.

Why I write ...

I write to inspire and inform, to encourage and entertain.

My first job ...

... was as secretary for the city tax assessor.

My best moment ...

... was August 31, 1974, 6:30 p.m. when I married my sweetheart.

My inspiration ...

... is found in two polar opposites - the awesome complexity of God's creation and the simple, everyday happenings of life.

Education > Education (Other) How to help kids adjust to going back to school

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You can help your child adjust to the back-to-school routine in one short week. The week before classes begin, have your kids get up a bit earlier each day. Reassure them, however, that they can go back to bed after being up for a brief time. While they may not be excited about getting up, they'll love the going-back-to-bed part. Chances are, their brains will have adjusted to the sound of the alarm before the week is over. Explain to your kids the consequences of not cooperating. If they choose not to get up when the alarm goes off (or the first time you call them), they get docked a dolla...

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