Andrew St. Mary is a loving husband, father, and grandfather. In fact the character Gio Jr. was inspired by his grandson, Giovanni. Andrew is a native Californian with deep family roots in Louisiana. He is a retired administrator for the California State Library, and his current pursuits include volunteering, travelling, and working on historical projects developed by his close friend and historian, the late Joe Moore. Joe was the impetus for Andrew to author The Sitka Adventure children's book with his wife, Sonya, and Joe's wife, Shirley. Andrew penned his first draft while vacationing in beautiful Lake Tahoe, California, and is continuing to write a series of books based on the compelling and delightful characters in the Sitka story.
Shirley Ann Wilson Moore received her Ph.D. in American history from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1989. She is Professor Emerita of History at California State University, Sacramento, where she taught American history, specializing in African American history, African American Western history, and the history of African American Western women. In 2019, Dr. Moore's book, Sweet Freedom's Plains: African Americans on the Overland Trails, 1841-1869 (University of Oklahoma Press, 2016), won the Barbara Sudler Award for best non-fiction work on a western American subject authored by a woman. Her first book, To Place Our Deeds: The African American Community in Richmond, California, 1910-1963 (University of California Press, 2000), was the recipient of the Richmond Museum's Historical Preservation Award (2000). Her second book, African American Women Confront the West, 1600-2000 (University of Oklahoma Press, 2003), co-edited with Quintard Taylor, received the American Library Association's CHOICE Award (2004).
Sonya St. Mary surrounds herself with the love of family and friends and is delighted by her role as mother and grandmother. She enjoys travel, music and gardening. Her previous career included working in the California State Foster Care system and other social programs.Through a serendipitous meeting, Sonya met historian/author Shirley Moore and Shirley's beloved late husband, Joe. Given this association, Sonya was excited to join the writing team with her husband, Andrew, and friend Shirley drafting The Sitka Adventure.
