Sheri Radford is a British Columbian through and through. Born in New Westminster and raised in Ladysmith, she also called Victoria home for several years. She graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing. Currently, she lives with her husband and three cats in Vancouver. A freelance writer, she is also the editor of the visitor magazines Where Vancouver and Where Whistler.

Sheri can't remember a time in her life when she wasn't writing: stories, poems, plays, articles, essays. She started writing stories for children after reading at least a zillion picture books out loud to her younger siblings.

Her first children's picture book, Penelope and the Humongous Burp, was published in spring 2004. The second book in the series, Penelope and the Monsters, came out in spring 2005. The third book, Penelope and the Preposterous Birthday Party, will be available in March 2009. Sheri is currently hard at work on more Penelope books. Seven books in total are planned for the series.

This short profile of Sheri appeared on the Scholastic website.

Several family members have commented that Penelope looks an awful lot like Sheri did as a child—even though illustrator Christine Tripp never saw any of Sheri's childhood photos. What do you think? Do you see a similarity between young Sheri and mischievous Penelope?

Check out some of the many articles Sheri has had published in the past few years:

• Hot Stuff (Where Vancouver, Jan 2009)
• Editors' Picks: Entertainment (Where Vancouver, Jan 2009)
• Hot Dates (Where Whistler, Winter 2008-2009)
• Eat, Drink & Be Merry (Where Vancouver, Jul 2008)
• A Day in the Country (Where Vancouver, Jun 2008)
• Best of the Fests (The Essential Vancouver, 2008-2009)
• Amazing Grace (Where Vancouver, Apr 2008)
• CelticFest (Where Vancouver, Mar 2008)
• Going to the Dogs (Journeys West, 2008)
• Steeped in History (Journeys West, 2008)
• Hot Dates (Where Vancouver, Feb 2008)
• Hot Dates (Where Vancouver, Jan 2008)
• The Write Stuff (Where Vancouver, Sep 2007)
• You Are Here: Mainland Street (Where Vancouver, Sep 2007)
• Spa Hurrah (Where Vancouver, Aug 2007)
• 5 Ways to Conquer Your Fear of Heights (Where Vancouver, Jul 2007)
• Hot Dates (Where Vancouver, Jul 2007)
• Yaletown: Living the Good Life (The Essential Vancouver, 2007-2008)
• Gastown: Let's Go Down in History (The Essential Vancouver, 2007-2008)
• Hot Dates (Where Vancouver, Jun 2007)
• You Are Here: Granville Street (Where Vancouver, Jun 2007)
• Glass Blowing (Where Vancouver, May 2007)
• You Are Here: Whistler (Where Vancouver, May 2007)
• Hot Dates (Where Vancouver, May 2007)
• Postcards from the Edge (Where Vancouver, Apr 2007
• Hot Tips: This Month (Where Vancouver, Apr 2007)
• Hot Tips: Galleries & Museums (Where Vancouver, Apr 2007)
• Zombie Zone (Where Vancouver, Mar 2007)
• Hot Tips: This Month (Where Vancouver, Mar 2007)
• King Coal's Castle (Journeys West, 2007)
• Canadian, Eh? (Journeys West, 2007)
• Monsters Among Us (Journeys West, 2007)
• Hot Tips: This Month (Where Vancouver, Feb 2007)
• It's a Dog's Life (Where Vancouver, Feb 2007)
• Hot Tips: This Month (Where Vancouver, Jan 2007)
• Best Holiday Bets (Where Vancouver, Dec 2006)
• Hot Tips: Galleries & Museums (Where Vancouver, Dec 2006)
• Into Each Life a Little Rain Must Fall (Where Vancouver, Nov 2006)
• Hot Tips: Galleries & Museums (Where Vancouver, Nov 2006)
• What's My Style? (Georgia Straight Living, Oct 12, 2006)
• For the Love of Cheese (Swerve, Jul 28, 2006)
• What Makes Vancouver Tops? (The Essential Vancouver, 2006-2007)
• Stringing Them Along (The Globe and Mail, May 12, 2006)
• Century Flower (Journeys West, 2006)
• Animal Nature (Journeys West, 2006)
• Waiting for Godiva's (Where Vancouver, Feb 2006)
• Where the Stars Are (The Essential Vancouver, 2005-2006)
• Vancouverisms (The Essential Vancouver, 2005-2006)
• Heavenly Paddle (Journeys West, 2005)
• Wild at Heart (Journeys West, 2005)
• Ultimate Vancouver (The Essential Vancouver, 2004-2005)
• How to Spot a Vancouverite (The Essential Vancouver, 2004-2005)
• Urban Wildlife (The Essential Vancouver, 2004-2005)
• Operation Chocolate (The Essential Vancouver, 2004-2005)
• A Whale of a Time (Journeys West, 2004)
• Wildlife Up Close (Journeys West, 2004)
• High-Wire Act (Journeys West, 2004)
• Head Over Heels (Homemakers, Feb-Mar 2004)
• Big Box Shopping (The Dollar Stretcher, Feb 2004)
• Mr. Shifty’s Car Had a Long and Happy Life (The Vancouver Sun, Jul 4, 2003)

A member of SCBWI, CANSCAIP, CWILL BC, and Federation of BC Writers, Sheri is available for readings, talks, panel discussions, school or library visits, and media interviews. To see photos of some of Sheri's readings, click here. For more information, contact Sheri.

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