Elizabeth Burgess was lucky enough to have Dr. J.J. Van Noppen for English at Appalachian State Teachers College. (now University) He encouraged her to write. She did not take writing seriously until the early 1980's when she returned from teaching in Baumholder Germany and was selected to attend The Writing Project at UNC-Pembroke. The project was based on the Berkeley, California Model. She received the Most Improved Award at the end of the project. This spurred her to write poetry and short stories and since her retirement from teaching she has written 3 novellas, 2 poetry collections, 1 childrens book with another in the works. She taught her 1st & 2nd graders to write stories. She believes we are never too young or to old to write for pleasure or publication.