Village of Sycamore is the debut novel by Maria Rihte. Maria Rihte was born in Helsinki, Finland. She has been an actor, artist, and a glass blower. She has been drawing ever since her grandmother gave her the first coloured pencils. When she was a young child, she loved to spend time in her grandmother’s studio, where she watched her grandmother paint with oils or sculpt clay. Maria attended the prestigious Aalto University, School of Art and Design, in Helsinki, studying ceramics and glass design. It was there that she met her future Canadian husband. She moved to Prince Edward County near Toronto, Canada, where she owned, together with her husband, a glass blowing studio and gallery for many years. She organized studio tours and participated in many art exhibitions. Her handmade glass designs were available in many art and graft stores across Canada and the USA. She and her family have lived in many countries after her initial move to Canada, due to her husband’s current work. The list of the old home countries includes: the USA, Poland, Slovenia and Germany. At the moment she resides in Paris, France, with her husband, daughter and the family dog Lizzie, living the lovely French way of life. She loves the exciting experience of moving to a new country. Even a task as easy as normal everyday shopping can become a challenge – a surprising adventure in a new place with a new language. She has collected many strange, funny and bizarre events during her many years abroad and someday she is hoping to put them inside a new book.