Peg Carmack Short was born and reared in a small Midwestern town near St. Louis, Missouri. When she was growing up, vacations were often spent visiting her father's boyhood home in the Missouri Ozarks. "There in those peaceful surroundings," she says, "I learned much of what remains important to me today: my faith in God; my love of family, friends, and home; and my delight in simple pleasures-the beauty of a rose, the rushing sound of a mountain stream, or the scent of the air after a spring rain."

When asked if reader Laury Hembree's descriptions of her were correct, Short replied, "She is very kind and generous in her thoughts of me. And when she speaks of my preferences she is, in many ways, close to the mark. Organized? For the most part . . . though my highest priority is to have a comfortable and welcoming home. I do love to spend lots of time with my children and grandchildren . . . friends, too. While I think kittens and puppies are adorable, I don't have any pets. I'm more of a people person than a pet person. Because of this, I do make friends easily wherever I go. My favorite treasures are my books. I collect them and every room in my house overflows with them. I love antiques and treasure history in this way. I don't have a pool, but my favorite exercise is swimming and water aerobics. A treadmill . . . well, that's taking exercise a little further than I care to go. I'd much rather curl up on the sofa with a good book! I love all kinds of music and especially like to sing. Church and my friends there are a major part of my life. Besides all of this, I love to entertain beautifully."

Professionally, Short is editor-in-chief of Becoming Family magazine and the former editor of Romantic Homes. Her book, A Country Sampler of Simple Blessings, is a further celebration of her love for home and family. Written to accompany the warm and wonderful paintings of her friend, internationally known folk artist Ellen Stouffer, Short says Stouffers paintings remind her of the small, town where her father grew up. "They speak to my heart and call to mind small towns and countrysides where friends and neighbors gather for good food and easy conversation . . . and where God speaks through everyday miracles."

Short has more than 20 years experience in publishing as a writer, editor, and executive. During that time, she has founded and consulted on several new magazine launches, and she helped start and develop a small trade-publishing house. Short has won more than 30 national awards for writing, design, and production excellence. Experienced in both magazine and book publishing, she has been involved in the development of book and audio products for Focus on the Family, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the home.

With a real heart for women and the concerns of their lives, Short loves being involved in women's ministry and likes to speak to groups offering encouragement, support, and inspiration.

Happily married to Bob for 37 years, she is the mother of three grown children and the grandmother of seven. "I think family is the greatest gift in life. It's my source of strength and comfort. The haven where I find love, peace, and joy."