Joan Mettauer was born and raised in Alberta's heartland. Her love affair with aviation was sparked at an early age, and she dedicated most of her working years to the flying business. Living in various Northern communities, she traveled throughout Canada's Arctic. Her final years in the aviation industry were spent in Inuvik, N.W.T., from where she bid farewell to the North. Now retired, she resides in Medicine Hat, Alberta, with her husband, cherished dog Chica, and near 3 of her 7 grandchildren. She's published the 'Andi & North' trilogy: Diamonds in an Arctic Sky; NORTH: The Last Great Race; and Honeymoon Bay. Her latest writing project is a chapter book for children - The Adventures of Stripes the Gopher - inspired by her own grandchildren.