Meet Mari

Mari Baird Tetwiler has a gift for inspiring young minds. With degrees from Kansas State University and the University of Kansas, she enjoyed a fulfilling career as an educator for gifted students coaching winning teams in programs like Odyssey of the Mind, Science Olympiad, and First Robotics.
 

To help girls explore careers, Mari was one of the founders of the “Girls Seminar,” connecting young women with inspiring professionals. During the pandemic, she penned her first picture book, Betty and Her Red Wagon, launching her on a multi-book journey. Her cat Anna and Shadow, inspired by her black lab Red, make appearances in her stories.
 

Mari lives in Paola, Kansas, with her husband Lee, where they have raised four amazing children. When she is not writing, you can find her escaping to the soothing sounds of the ocean or enjoying family time. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, she believes creativity and determination can shape a world where every individual is valued, and every path illuminated.