Emily H. Jeffries is a theology teacher and speaker with bachelor's degrees in drama and religious studies from the University of Virginia and a master's in sacred theology from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, where most of her classmates were wizards--that is, friars. She loves wandering through forests and cathedrals, and her hidden magical abilities include performing improv comedy, evading cardiovascular activity, and singing all of Les Misérables from memory. As the reader may have guessed, Emily is also an enthusiast for the animal kingdom, particularly that of the avian variety. Her favorite stories are the timeless tales which remind us that the human soul is on an adventure, and home is just beyond the next ridge. She currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, two children, and a failing veggie patch.