Wherever Shirley goes, Arty is sure to follow! (Shirley is the one on the right!) Shirley, the newest author at U-Otter-Read-It, is a graduate with a BA from U of Calgary. She also holds Associate Teacher's Speech Arts diplomas from Mount Royal College (Calgary), Royal Conservatory (Toronto) and Trinity College (London, England) and a Licentiate diploma as a performer from the Mount Royal College.

Professionally, she has been President of Tree House Youth Theatre, Past-President of the Northern Chapter of the Registered Speech Teachers Association of Alberta and is currently a board member with the Kiwanis Music Festival in Edmonton. Presently, she is on the Executive Board of Examiners (Speech Arts) for the Royal Conservatory (Toronto), and conducts workshops in voice, mime, readers' theatre, choral speech, puppetry and storytelling.

In demand as a Speech Arts adjudicator for festivals, Shirley travels extensively throughout Western Canada. Colleagues regard her as a dynamic, energetic educator, with a keen sense of fun, providing sound, practical information for workshop participants.