Linda Gerdner was born in Iowa and is a registered nurse. She is dedicated to helping persons with Alzheimer s disease and the family members who are care for them. Although Grandfather s Story Cloth is her first children s book she has published extensively in professional journals and received international and national awards for these contributions. Gerdner has traveled to northern Laos where she visited three Hmong villages in the rural province of Xieng Khouang. The bonds and friendships established with members of the Hmong American community have enriched her life and expanded her world.