Mary Ann Vitale was born in Cinisi, Sicily. As a young girl, she loved reading books even in the dark. Unfortunately during that time, not too many books were available. At the age of fifteen, she crossed the Atlantic Ocean by ship and moved to St. Louis, MO with her large family of nine. Even though she did not know the English language, at the age of sixteen she enrolled in Cosmetology school and became a licensed hair stylist. She moved to Woodhaven, MI and owned a beauty salon for many years. Later in life, she attended college where she learned the skills to write her own children's stories. The author is married and has three grown children and two grandchildren. While she was… babysitting, Vitale was inspired by God to write her first story for her granddaughter. Soon after, she wrote many other stories which she plans to publish in the near future. The author loves her family, church, gardening and traveling. The Water Lily Fairy is her first published children's book.Look for her sequel "The Water Lily Fairy at the Ice Cream Palace" coming soon.