About Us

Vivian Gilbert Zabel

About Vivian

                                        About the Author
                 (more than anyone ever wanted to know about me)

       Since I was born on an Air Force base (Randolph AFB, Texas), right under the flight path, I knew I had
to be a plane. I often wondered if I were a B52 or a C130. No one can imagine the surprise, the dismay, the
shock I felt when my mother told me I was a person. I often wondered why I had people for parents.

       One thing, before I continue - no, I did not watch the Wright brothers test their plane. I'm not that old.

       Now, for some of the boring stuff. Born July 28,1943, I traveled all over the United States and half way
around the world west and east. I started in Texas and graduated from high school in Limestone, Maine. I
lived on Guam and in Morocco. As an 'Air Force brat,' I followed my father to most places the military
assigned him.

       I married my husband on February 18, 1962. After our three living children were in school, I returned
to college and studied to become a teacher. I taught school for over twenty-five years, grades five through
twelve, from time to time, but mainly high school. I taught English, speech, drama, debate, French,
yearbook, newspaper, creative writing - I think that's all. Now I write poetry, stories, and books, as well as
frantically learning the publishing trade.

       When I'm not writing, I'm attending ball games or traveling. Thanks to three grown children, I have ten
grandchildren, two great grandsons, and two great-granddaughters. Three of the grandchildren live in the
same town I do, and all three boys play all kinds of ball (baseball, basketball, football, and one is adding
wrestling). That's one reason some of my stories and books are about boys who play ball and have
adventures.

       Oklahoma, which means "Land of the Red People," has been my home for most of my life. I don't
think I would ever want to live anywhere else. The state has sandy beaches around a large salt lake, hills so
tall they are nearly mountains, farm land and forests, flat land and rolling hills, cities and rural areas. Our
state isn't heavily populated. Our two major cities, Oklahoma City (which is also the capital) and Tulsa
aren't as large as Dallas or Los Angeles, but we can find almost anything we could want here. We have
Broadway plays and community theater; we have minor league baseball and the University of Oklahoma
Sooner football; we have a classical symphony and the Oklahoma Opry. We can claim Garth Brooks, Reba
McIntire, and Toby Keith, just to name a few of the celebrities from my home state.

       Home is where the heart is, and my heart is with my family in Oklahoma, even if my head may be
buried in a book - whether reading or writing.

       I have much for which to be thankful. My husband is still with me even though according to all medical
knowledge, he shouldn't be. Two grandchildren who were taken from our lives for over 11 years have
returned. A nephew and one niece who were gone for over 20 years are back.