Rusty grew up in St. Louis, Mo. among a large group of very talented family members who worked and created fine art, sang opera, played musical instruments and read novels with a passion. After obtaining her fine art degree from Washington Univ. she had an exciting career as a fashion designer, but when the workday was over, she usually had her "head in a book." Rusty's desire to learn permitted her to go back to college at 40 and obtain a teaching degree. She hopes she has instilled that same desire for knowledge in the hearts and minds of the hundreds of Kindergarten and Art students she has been fortunate to instruct over the years. She believes this cognizance has manifested itself in her desire to research and write about the past generations who have nurtured us and set examples for our behaviors. History is an interest but the retelling of it within the structure of a personal story is her passion.