Marcia Douglas

Marcia Douglas has been an elementary school teacher for 30+ years of her life. She grew up in the small town of Ft. Bragg, CA, on the rugged, northern California coast, went to college, and then came back to teach at home. The railroad has been part of her life and the fabric of the town for over a century. Recently, she started making art quilts as a hobby and donated her "Super Skunk" quilt to the railroad. As she walked around the gift shop, she noticed there were no storybooks for children...See more

Marcia Douglas has been an elementary school teacher for 30+ years of her life. She grew up in the small town of Ft. Bragg, CA, on the rugged, northern California coast, went to college, and then came back to teach at home. The railroad has been part of her life and the fabric of the town for over a century. Recently, she started making art quilts as a hobby and donated her "Super Skunk" quilt to the railroad. As she walked around the gift shop, she noticed there were no storybooks for children about how the steam train became a reality. So, she casually asked if she could write one. The "Chief Skunk"consented and encouraged her to do so. After interviewing her friends who had worked on the train and also knowing their children and their grandchildren, Marcia created this charming fictional story, based on actual experiences they had had working for the railroad in an effort to preserve some of the fascinating tales she heard them tell. Marcia and her husband, Paul, an architect, have three grown children and still live in Mendocino. She smiles as she hears the train whistle every day as it begins its delightful journey. Cady Motherwell was born and raised in Fort Bragg and began exploring all styles of cartoon art at a very young age. She says she derives most of her inspiration from animation and video game design, particularly anime. As a child, Cady used to ride the Skunk Train with her sister and grandparents. They would hop off about halfway on its route to picnic and swim in the river all day and then later, they would catch a ride home on its return trip. It is a cherished childhood memory for Cady so creating the art for this book was the perfect opportunity to highlight some of the history of her beloved Skunk train. Cady has also illustrated other children's books, one featuring the beginning letters of the alphabet, and the other introducing numbers. She hopes to continue her artistic career in years to come. See less