Dr. Joyce Hardin is a woman of many roles: mission, public school teacher, college professor, university dean, writer, speaker, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
She grew up in Texas and New Mexico but life has made her international.

She earned degrees from Abilene Christian University and Eastern New Mexico University, with a doctorate from Oklahoma State University in Curriculum and Instruction.

She spent 17 years in South Korea as a missionary. This phase of her life led to her book, Three Steps Behind (1987). As a missions teacher and trainer, she used her book Sojourners: Women with a Mission (1971), as her curriculum.

As a teacher and a teacher educator, she has received recognition for excellence in teaching and leadership in teacher preparation.

Dr. Hardin, an effective communicator, presents training, workshops, and motivational programs across the nation and around the globe.

In addition to the two books already mentioned, Dr. Hardin has contributed chapters to other publications in the United States and in Korea. She has also written four Bible school curriculum series that emphasize cross-culture understanding and higher thinking skills. Other writings include a monthly newspaper column in Korea, magazine articles in both Korea and the United States, and contributions to a daily devotional publication.

An avid reader, Dr. Hardin especially enjoyed reading along with her three daughters as they read books that were new to her. As a middle school reading teacher, she implemented an individualized reading program designed to 'hook' kids on books and reading.

When grandchildren began to arrive (eleven in all), Grandma Hardin became a storyteller, creating stories on demand. It was here that Mary Elizabeth entered the picture. The request was almost always, "Tell us another Mary Elizabeth story."

The grandchildren grew up and moved in different directions. As great-grandchildren were added, time for storytelling was not often possible. The request changed to, "When are you going to write about Mary Elizabeth?"

Everyone knows that grandmothers have difficulty saying 'no' to grandchildren. The result is ROSEWOOD SECRETS, A MARY ELIZABETH ADVENTURE.

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