Award-winning author, Alysson Foti Bourque, began her career as a teacher after graduating from University of Louisiana Lafayette with a degree in Elementary Education. She earned a law degree from the Southern University Law Center in 2007. After practicing law for six years, it was time to trade in writing trial briefs for writing children’s books. Alysson enjoys speaking with children and teachers at school and library visits with the life-size Alycat mascot and hopes to inspire people to believe in themselves, their work, and to keep writing stories.